Physical Effects of Radiation Modification of Biodegradable Xylitol-Based Materials Synthesized Using a Combination of Different Monomers

There is a possibility of obtaining xylitol-based elastomers sharing common characteristics of biodegradability, thermal stability, and elastomeric behavior by using monomers with different chain-lengths. Therefore, we have synthesized eight elastomers using a combination of four different diols (ethanediol, 1.3-propanediol, 1.4-buanediol, and 1.5-pentanediol) and two different dicarboxylic acids (succinic acid and adipic acid). The obtained materials were further modified by performing e-beam treatment with a dose of 100 kGy. Materials both before and after radiation modification were tested by DSC, DMTA, TGA, tensile tests, gel fraction determination, hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation tests, H-1 NMR and C-13 NMR and FTIR.