A novel linear lactic acid-based poly(ester-amide) (LLPEA) was prepared via polyaddition of toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) with ethylene lactate succinic half-ester diacid (ELDA), which contained ethylene glycol lactate sequences and derived from lactic acid. LLPEA was characterized with FTIR, GPC, DSC, TGA, and XRD. The weight average molecular weight and its polydisperse index of LLPEA could be 1.0 x 10,5 and 2.0, respectively. DSC and XRD analysis showed that LLPEA was a sernicrystalline polymer. The glass transition temperature, melting temperature, and the thermal decomposition temperature (50 wt %) of LLPEA were -2, 94, and similar to 415 degrees C, respectively. The contact angle determination indicated that LLPEA was a hydrophilic polymer. It was found that the yield strength, tensile strength, and elastic module of LLPEA could be 8.8, 9.6, and 176 MPa, respectively. In addition, the weight loss percentage of LLPEA was 2.5% after 157days immersion in activated sludge at ambient temperature, which suggested that LLPEA was degradable. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.