Poly(glycolic acid)/poly(oxyethylene) triblock copolymers and method of manufacturing the same

摘要

Poly(glycolic acid)/poly(oxyalkylene) ABA triblock copolymers having the following formula: <IMAGE> and wherein x and y have values which correspond to a total polyglycolide content of about 75 to 95 weight percent and a total polyoxyalkylene content of about 5 to 25 weight percent. The copolymers are useful for manufacturing fibers possessing a sufficiently low modulus of elasticity to permit their use as absorbable sutures having the requisite flexibility for use in monofilament form. A process of preparation involves purifying the hydroxyl-ended poly(oxyalkylene) and allowing it to react with glycolide to produce an ABA triblock copolymer of extrusion grade in which A represents a polyglycolic acid block and B represents a poly(oxyalkylene) block.