Nonbiological Degradation of Polymers

A great number of polymers are subject to hydrolysis, such as polyesters, polyanhydrides, polyamides, polycarbonates, polyurethanes (PU), polyureas, polyacetals and polyorthoesters. Different mechanisms of hydrolysis have been extensively reviewed not only for backbone hydrolysis, but also for the hydrolysis 

Important features affecting chemical polymer degradation and erosion include a) the type of chemical bond, b) the pH, c) the temperature, d) the copolymer composition and e) water uptake (hydrophilicity). These features will not be discussed here, but have been covered in detail by [4]. 

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