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Synthesis of Poly[(ethylene terephthalate)‐ co ‐( ε ‐caprolactone)]‐Poly(propylene oxide) Block Copolyester by Direct Polyesterification of Reactive Oligomers
Author(s) -
SaintLoup René,
Robin JeanJacques
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.200500079
Subject(s) - polymer chemistry , ethylene oxide , ether , thermoplastic elastomer , propylene oxide , caprolactone , materials science , ring opening polymerization , polymerization , copolymer , polymer , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material
Summary: The objective of this study was to synthesize thermoplastic elastomers by the direct copolyesterification of reactive oligomers of poly[(ethylene terephthalate)‐ co ‐( ε ‐caprolactone)] (PET) and poly(propylene oxide) (PPO). The synthesis of hard segment oligomers was achieved in two steps. The first step consisted of the glycolysis of PET leading to α , ω ‐hydroxyl functionalized oligomers. The second step corresponded to the ring opening polymerization of ε ‐caprolactone onto the hydroxyl end groups of the PET oligomers. Commercially available hydroxytelechelic poly(propylene oxide) was modified to obtain carboxytelechelic poly(propylene oxide). The chemical structure of the product was investigated by 1 H NMR and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Multiblock poly(ester‐ether) was then synthesized by polyesterification of hydroxytelechelic poly[(ethylene terephthalate)‐ co ‐( ε ‐caprolactone)] with carboxytelechelic poly(propylene oxide) oligomers, using different catalysts and reaction conditions. The best stoichiometric ratio for the reaction was determined in order to obtain the highest possible $\overline M _{\rm n}$ . The chemical structure of the synthesized poly(ester‐ether) was investigated by size exclusion chromatography and 1 H NMR. The thermal and thermomechanical behavior of the synthesized poly(ester‐ether) was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis, which showed that the poly(ester‐ether) behaved as a thermoplastic elastomer. This product could also be an interesting way for chemical recycling of PET waste.Synthesis of multiblock co‐poly(ester‐ether).