High impact strength poly(lactide) tough biodegradable materials.

The development of biodegradable polymers for use in surgical applications has received considerable attention in recent years. Especially poly (a-hydroxy-acids) have been utilized in sutures, drug release systems and bone fracture fixation. In load bearing surgical devices like bone plates and screws, good mechanical properties (strength, toughness) of the material are essential if the implants are to be used safely and successfully. In order for the polymer to hydrolyze and degrade in vivo without eliciting adverse secondary tissue reactions, low crystalline or amorphous polymers are the preferred materials. This thesis describes the synthesis and properties of several copolymers of L-lactide. The effect of the nature of the comonomer and the copolymer composition on the thermal- and mechanical properties has been evaluated. Furthermore, the low impact resistance of amorphous poly(lactide) can be related to the relatively low entanglement density in the melt. The toughness of these brittle materials can be sustantially improved by block copolymerization and blending with biodegradable rubbers. ...

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