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Chemical Structure and Microstructure of Poly(alkylene terephthalate)s, their Copolyesters, and their Blends as Studied by NMR
Author(s) -
de Ilarduya Antxon Martínez,
MuñozGuerra Sebastián
Publication year - 2014
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.201400239
Subject(s) - polyester , materials science , condensation polymer , polymer chemistry , ethylene , polymerization , microstructure , chemical structure , poly ethylene , polymer , organic chemistry , composite material , chemistry , catalysis
The use of NMR spectroscopy in solution to investigate the chemical structure of engineering poly(alkylene terephthalate)s such as poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT), and poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) is reviewed. Chemical defects present in the polyester chain, such as oxydialkylene units, as well as accompanying side products such as cyclic oligomers generated in the polycondensation, are well detected in 1 H NMR spectra. The technique is also demonstrated to be effective for identifying, and even for quantifying in certain cases, the end groups of these polyterephthalates, including those that are generated in small amounts as a consequence of thermal degradation. The application of NMR to the study of the chemical microstructure of copolyesters derived from such polyterephthalates is also reviewed for its unique ability to determine comonomeric sequence lengths and degree of randomness ( R ). Copolyesters synthesized by either melt polycondensation or entropically driven ring opening polymerization, in addition to those prepared by solid‐state modification or melt blending, are the object of this review.