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Three‐arm poly (ε‐caprolactone) by extrusion polymerization
Author(s) -
Balakrishnan Sunder,
Krishnan Mohan,
Narayan Ramani,
Dubois Philippe
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.20344
Subject(s) - differential scanning calorimetry , reactive extrusion , materials science , extrusion , thermogravimetric analysis , polymerization , caprolactone , plastics extrusion , polymer chemistry , polymer , monomer , composite material , chemical engineering , thermodynamics , physics , engineering
Abstract Three‐arm poly (ε‐caprolactone, reactive extruded) (REX‐PCL) polymer was continuously produced using a twin‐screw extruder with aluminum tri‐sec butoxide (ATSB) initiator in residence times of less than five minutes. Monomer conversions in excess of 95% were achieved, and high molecular weight PCL was produced. The number average molecular weight of each arm of REX‐PCL ranged from 30,000 to 200,000 g/mol. A screw configuration comprising entirely of conveying elements was most effective in the extrusion polymerization process. The REX‐PCL polymer was characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and intrinsic viscosity measurements. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 46:235–240, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers