A series of biodegradable poly(L-lactide-co-epsilon-caprolactone) (PCLA) copolymers with different chemical compositions are synthesized and characterized. The mechanical properties and shape-memory behaviors of PCLA copolymers are studied. The mechanical properties are significantly affected by the copolymer compositions. With the F-caprolactone (epsilon-CL) content increasing, the tensile strength of copolymers decreases linearly and the elongation at break increases gradually. By means of adjusting the compositions, the copolymers exhibit excellent shape-memory effects with shape-recovery and shape-retention rate exceeding 95%. The effects of composition, deformation strain, and the stretching conditions on the recovery stress are also investigated systematically. A maximum recovery stress around 6.2 MPa can be obtained at stretching at Tg - 15 degrees C to 200% deformation strain for the PCLA70 copolymer. The degradation results show that the copolymers with higher epsilon-CL content have faster degradation rates and shape-recovery rates, meanwhile, the recovery stress can maintain a relative high value after 30 days in vitro degradation. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.