Weak Hydrogen Bonding in Biodegradable Polymers

The CH⋯O hydrogen bond is a fairly weak interaction compared to other hydrogen bonds such as OH⋯OH, OH⋯OC, NH⋯OC, and so on; however it play important roles in stabilizing the crystalline structure of polymers. Although these hydrogen bonds are relatively weak, they are present in large numbers in the crystal lamellae, and they become a major force in the whole and have a significant effect on the physical properties of the polymer. We here present the weak hydrogen bondings in biodegradable polymers using infrared and wide-angle X-ray diffraction studies.