International Conference on Physics.SPb/2025

Study of the water absorption process by aliphatic polyesters

A. G. Dunaev^a, S. A. Minaeva^a, A. V. Mironov^a, V. K. Popov^a, E. M. Trifanova^ab, N. V. Minaev<sup>a

a</sup> Institute of Photonic Technologies, Federal Research Centre ‘Crystallography and Photonics’, Russian Academy of Sciences
^b Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Russian Scientific Center of Surgery named after Academician B.V. Petrovsky, Moscow

Abstract: This study focuses on investigating the kinetics of water sorption at the early stages of the hydrolytic degradation of aliphatic polyesters (D, L-polylactides) using optical detection methods. An original experimental technique has been developed, enabling real-time analysis of the spatial and temporal distribution of water concentration within the samples. It was found that moisture penetration occurs predominantly from the surface layers of the material, gradually spreading inward. A direct correlation was demonstrated between the increase in water content and the formation of microstructural defects-pores arising as a result of polymer chain degradation.

Keywords: polylactic acid, polymer resorption, water diffusion, IR radiation.

Received: 05.05.2025
Revised: 09.07.2025
Accepted: 09.07.2025

DOI: 10.61011/PJTF.2025.24.61749.8051

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