An FTIR-ATR Investigation of In Vivo Poly( ether urethane)Degradation 

 -  Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 46(2), p.201-211, 1992 .
<br/><br/> Surface degradation of implanted poly(ether urethane)s was studied quantitatively with a micro-ATR-FTIR technique. Substantial degradation was observed particularly in the soft segment at the a-carbon adjacent to the ether linkage. The degradation caused changes in the concentration profiles of the soft-segment groups in the depth direction, and the affected depth was up to 10 microns after implantation for 10 weeks. Inhibition of degradation by antioxidants indicated the oxidative nature of degradation. An in invo poly(ether urethane)degradation mechanism was proposed. 
<br/><br/><label>Subjects--Topical Terms: </label><br/>CHEMICAL REACTIONS - MATHEMATICAL MODELS<br/>POLYMERS - OXIDATION<br/>POLYURETHANES - SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS<br/>SPECTROSCOPY, INFRARED - APPLICATIONS