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Transesterification reactions in molten polymers
Author(s) -
Lambla M.,
Druz J.,
Bouilloux A.
Publication year - 1987
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.760271604
Subject(s) - transesterification , catalysis , methoxide , saponification , alcohol , materials science , sodium methoxide , organic chemistry , reagent , vinyl alcohol , polymer chemistry , polymer , chemistry
The transesterification reaction of molten ethylene and vinyl alcohol copolymers (EVA), in presence of paraffinic alcohols and basic catalysts, leads to high conversion of the ester groups to secondary alcohol in both discontinuous and continuous processing equipment. Various kinds of alcohols and two different catalysts were used. Sodium methoxide is a powerful catalyst for the equilibrated transesterification reaction, but we also observed side reactions, such as cross‐linking with low‐molecular‐weight alcohols and hydrolysis of the catalyst followed by partial saponification of the EVA. Kinetic studies were performed in the presence of dibutyltin dilaurate, an efficient catalyst without any side reactions. The solubility of the main alcohol reagents was verified by diffusion measurements. The general reaction scheme and the related kinetics, corresponding to a homogeneous system, lead to a fair evaluation of the rate constants.