LOW-MELT-VISCOSITY POLYGLYCOLIC ACID, PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME, AND USE OF THE LOW-MELT-VISCOSITY POLYGLYCOLIC ACID

摘要

A low-melt-viscosity polyglycolic acid which has a melt viscosity, as measured at a temperature higher than 10°C than the melting point and at a shear rate of 122 sec-1, of 100 Pa s or lower, a 3% weight loss temperature on heating of 280°C or higher, and a water content of 500 ppm or lower and which is solid at any temperature in the range of 20±15°C. Also provided is a process for producing a low-melt-viscosity polyglycolic acid which comprises the step of causing a high-melt-viscosity polyglycolic acid in a solid state to absorb moisture and the step of heat-treating this polyglycolic acid.