A Green Method for Processing Polymers using Dense Gas Technology

Dense CO [Formula: see text] can be used as an environmentally-benign polymer processing medium because of its liquid-like densities and gas-like mass transfer properties.In this work, polymer bio-blends of polycarbonate (PC), a biocompatible polymer, and polycaprolactone (PCL), a biodegradable polymer were prepared. Dense CO [Formula: see text] was used as a reaction medium for the melt-phase PC polymerization in the presence of dense CO [Formula: see text]-swollen PCL particles and this method was used to prepare porous PC/PCL blends. To extend the applicability of dense CO [Formula: see text] to the biomedical industry and polymer blend processing, the impregnation of ibuprofen into the blend was conducted and subsequent dissolution characteristics were observed.