Flexible copolymers of p-(hydroxyalkoxy)benozic acid and pliant surgical products, particularly monofilament surgical sutures, therefrom

A surgical filament comprising a random copolymer of the formula:

• ##STR5## wherein m represents a number having an average value of from 2 to 6, wherein x and y represent numbers having average values such that the units represented by A comprise from about 1 to about 50 weight percent of the copolymer, the remainder comprising the alkyleneoxy benzoate units, and wherein the A units represent at least one of the following units (1) or (2):
• --CO--CHR--CH.sub.2 --CO--O--CH.sub.2)--O]-- (1)
• wherein n represents a number having an average value of from 2 to 12, and wherein R represents alkyl or 2-alkenyl of from 8 to 24 carbon atoms;
• or
• --CO--DA--CO--O(CH.sub.2)--O-- (2)
• wherein DA represents the residue after removal of the carboxyl groups of a dimer acid of long chain unsaturated fatty acid, said residue having an approximate formula of C.sub.34 H.sub.66, and wherein n represents a number having an average value of 2 to 12;
• wherein said filament is characterized by the following physical properties:
• Knot strength greater than about 25.times.10.sup.3 psi
• Tensile strength greater than about 45.times.10.sup.3 psi
• Young's Modulus less than about 250.times.10.sup.3 psi.