Abstract: A new biodegradable copolyester was synthesized via polycondensation from dimethyl terephthalate (DMT), 1,6-hexanediol (HDO), 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM) and oligo(lactic acid) (OLA) in the presence of activator tetrabutyl titanate. The resulting copolyesters, PHCTL, were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG) and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). The melting temperature (Tm) and thermal decomposition temperature (Td) of the copolyesters increased obviously with increasing content of CHDM. The molecular weights of copolyesters were found to be varied in the range of 1.7-3.6 x 104 g/mol. The degradation rates of copolyesters were dependent on their hydrophilicity.

Key words: Copolyester, Biodegradation, Lactic acid, Transesterification