Complexity of the hydrolytic degradation of aliphatic polyesters

Abstract Aliphatic polyesters are more or less hydrolytically degradable, depending on their chemical, configurational and morphological structures. Hydrolysis can be either homogeneous or heterogeneous, depending on many structural and environmental factors. The present understanding of this hydrolytic degradation is recalled. The importance of diffusion‐reaction phenomena is discussed on the basis of the behaviors of polyesters derived from α‐hydroxy acids, namely lactic and glycolic acids and attempts are made to extend the understanding to other members of the aliphatic polyester family. The main results of some recent investigations of the effects on poly(lactic acid) polymers of basic additives and of initiators such as stannous octoate and zinc metal, which are now industrially used, are presented.