Synthesis and Degradation Study of Graft Copolymers of Poly(limonene Carbonate)

The utility of poly(limonene carbonate) (PLimC) for real-world application as an environmentally friendly polymer can be enhanced by improving its brittleness and degradation. In this work, a chemical approach for making graft polymer architecture has been presented for property modification. Grafted polyesters onto PLimC with microphase separation and enhanced hydrophilicity were synthesized and characterized in depth for their structural, thermal, mechanical and morphological properties. The effect of structure on enzymatic and wastewater degradation, assessed by monitoring the production of CO2 and the mechanism of degradation, is studied by a combination of different analytical methods. Polyester-grafted poly(limonene carbonate) with improved hydrophilicity, elastic behavior, and degradation under enzymatic and wastewater conditions is presented.