Degradation mechanisms of polycaprolactone in the context of chemistry, geometry and environment

Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a biodegradable polymer that is widely utilized for biomedical applications, as well as for environmentally sustainable packaging. The mechanisms driving PCL degradation appear to be overall variably documented and investigated, despite the potentially significant influence that aspects such as synthesis, end-group chemistry, molecular weight, and crystallinity, both before and after melt processing, may have on the...