Accessing enhanced mechanical properties and processability with branched and cross-linked biodegradable polymers

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Biodegradable polymers with controlled structure and properties have been of intense interest in the past few years and have been used in applications and products ranging from packaging and agricultural materials to microelectronics. However, existing biodegradable polymer products suffer from a limited scope of physical properties, which limit their applications in areas where enhanced mechanical properties are necessary. For example, linear biodegradable polymers such as polylactides have poor melt strength and brittleness while polycaprolactones have low melting points that limit their usefulness. Incorporating branches in these polymers is expected to enhance their mechanical properties and make them comparable to those of many petroleum-based plastics, which are known to have easily modified degrees of branching to give polymeric materials of variable densities and mechanical properties. Introducing comparable branched structures into biodegradable polymers in is an important step for developing the next generation of green materials.