what is hydrolytic degradation
1 Hydrolytic Degradation: ï This process occurs in polymers that are watersensitive active groups, especially those that take a lot of moisture. ï 2  Polymers that have an ability for hydrolytic destruction usually have heteroatoms in the main or side chain. Mechanism of Hydrolytic Degradation ï Hydrolytic degradation of members of the polylactide/glycolide family proceeds through four stages as represented in Figure 2: First stage of water diffusion followed by second stage, in which oligomers with acidic endgroups autocatalyze the hydrolysis reaction.