Process for production of polyester copolymers and a composition incorporating the copolymers

Abstract

There is disclosed a process for producing a polyester copolymer. The process comprises the step of condensating a hydroxyacid, a diol, a dicarboxylic acid and a functionalizing agent selected to form a prepolymer having a polyester copolymer backbone with arms comprising cross-linkable groups extending therefrom. The process also comprises the step of coupling said prepolymer in the presence of a coupling agent to cross link the arms of plural prepolymer backbones and thereby form said polyester copolymer comprising said plural straight chain polyester copolymers coupled to each other by said cross-linked arms. The polyester copolymer may be biodegradable and may be used as a modifier to increase the strength of polylactic acid.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.