Functional Degradable Polymers : from the monomeric point of view

Sammanfattning: Degradable polymers is key, within the future vison, of creating a sustainable society were all aspects, cradle to grave, can be realized in a sustainable way. It is imperative to consider, how the monomer is formed, its polymerization, the material properties created and the final degradation behavior. In this thesis, the major focus will be placed on the three former aspects from the vantage point of the monomer. The immense variety of different monomers available within the realm of polymer chemistry necessitates a logical division among them. Herein, we make such a division according to their respective inherent thermodynamic properties and how these translate into the synthetic behavior of the corresponding polymers. These divisions are as follows: stable monomers (monomers that resist becoming polymers), meta-stable monomers (monomers for which temperature is of immense importance during polymer formation), and unstable monomers (monomers that desire to be in the polymeric state). From this viewpoint, three different investigations were conducted, thereby demonstrating the inherent advantages and disadvantages of each type together with the importance of using the “right” catalyst for the “right” monomer.