Synthesis and Properties of Poly(ε-caprolactone-co-1, 2-propanediol oxalate)

A series of poly(ε-caprolactone-co-1,2-propylene glycol oxalate) (P(CL-co-POx)) copolymers were synthesized via bulk ring-opening copolymerization of ε-caprolactone (CL) with cyclic 1,2-propylene glycol oxalate (1,2-POx) as a modifying monomer. The polymerization behavior, physicochemical properties, mechanical properties, and degradation performance of P(CL-co-POx) were systematically investigated. Results demonstrated that the monomer conversion exceeded 94%, the number-average molecular weight (M_n) reached up to 131.5×10³, and the crystallinity was determined to be 39.0%. The copolymer exhibited favorable mechanical properties with a tensile strength of 26.9 MPa and an elongation at break of 1 928%, as well as excellent degradability, showing a mass loss of 66% after 28 d of degradation. This strategy provides an effective route for designing aliphatic polyesters with superior mechanical performance and tunable degradability.