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Synthesis and properties of random copolymers of 2,2‐dimethyltrimethylene carbonate and ethylene carbonate catalyzed by lanthanide tris(2,6‐di‐ tert ‐butyl‐4‐methylphenolate)
Author(s) -
Xu Ning,
Liu Xin,
Liu Yixin,
Zhu Weipu,
Chen Feng,
Shen Zhiquan
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.30514
Subject(s) - ethylene carbonate , crystallinity , copolymer , differential scanning calorimetry , materials science , thermogravimetric analysis , glass transition , polymer chemistry , lanthanide , carbonate , ethylene , trimethylene carbonate , chemical engineering , nuclear chemistry , polymer , catalysis , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , metallurgy , ion , physics , electrode , engineering , electrolyte , thermodynamics
Random copolymers of 2,2‐dimethyltrimethylene carbonate and ethylene carbonate (EC) were synthesized with lanthanide tris(2,6‐di‐ tert ‐butyl‐4‐methylphenolate)s [Ln(DBMP) 3 ; Ln = La, Nd, Sm, or Dy] as catalysts, among which La(DBMP) 3 showed the highest activity. Poly(2,2‐dimethyltrimethylene carbonate‐ co‐ ethylene carbonate)s [poly(DTC‐ co ‐EC)]s with high molecular weights were prepared at room temperature and characterized with 1 H‐NMR and size exclusion chromatography. The thermal behavior and crystalline properties of the poly(DTC‐ co ‐EC)s were analyzed with differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and X‐ray diffraction. The crystallinity and melting temperatures of the poly(DTC‐ co ‐EC)s both decreased with increasing EC content in the copolymers. The mechanical properties of these copolymers were also investigated with dynamic mechanical analysis and tensile strength measurements, which revealed that a reduction of the glass‐transition temperature and great enhancement of the tensile properties could be achieved with higher EC contents. These improvements in the thermal and mechanical properties indicate potential applications in biomedical research for novel polycarbonates. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010