Biodegradable poly(DL-lactide)/poly(ε-caprolactone) mixtures:: Miscibility at the air/water interface

Mixtures of biodegradable polymers, poly(DL-lactide) and poly(E-caprolactone) monolayers at the air/water interface have been studied. Surface pressure-area isotherms of poly(DL-lactide), poly(epsilon-caprolactone) and their mixtures were obtained by monolayer compression at constant temperature. The behavior of the mixed monolayers was analyzed according to the classical addition rule. Good agreement was observed between experimental and ideal behavior except for one composition where a negative deviation was observed. The polymer monolayer miscibility was corroborated by comparison between the surface pressure-area isotherms of the random copolymers (DL-lactide-co-epsilon-caprolactone) and their mixtures at the same compositions. Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) shows homogeneity in the monolayers in the whole range of compositions. These results also confirm the miscibility of the mixtures. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.