Synthesis of Aliphatic-Aromatic Copolyesters by a High Temperature Bulk Reaction Between Poly(ethylene terephthalate) and Cyclodi(ethylene succinate)

• Published in: Macromolecular chemistry and physics Vol. 205; no. 18; pp. 2391 - 2397
• Main Authors: Salhi, Slim, Tessier, Martine, Blais, Jean-Claude, El Gharbi, Rachid, Fradet, Alain
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 08.12.2004; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical modifications; Chemical reactions and properties; cyclodi(ethylene succinate); ester interchange; Exact sciences and technology; MALDI; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; poly(ethylene terephthalate); ring-opening polymerization; Ethylene terephthalate polymer; Molecular structure; Exchange reaction; Transesterification; Experimental study; Thermal stability; Succinate copolymer; Ester copolymer; Cyclic polymer; Preparation; Reaction mechanism; Dimer; Polysuccinate; Growth from melt; Microstructure; Ethylene terephthalate copolymer
• ISSN: 1022-1352; 1521-3935
• DOI: 10.1002/macp.200400301

Cyclodi(ethylene succinate) (C2) easily reacts with poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) in the melt leading to the formation of high molar mass PET‐Poly(ethylene succinate) copolymers (PET‐PES). Copolyesters with a PET/C2 starting mass ratio of 90/10, 80/20, 70/30 and 50/50 were synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR and MALDI‐TOF MS. The 50/50 copolyester was almost random, while copolyesters with higher ethylene terephthalate contents exhibited some block copolymer character. MALDI‐TOF MS/SEC off‐line coupling was used to determine copolyester absolute average molar masses. The results indicate that the conventional SEC polystyrene calibration strongly overestimates copolyester molar masses. The melting temperatures and crystallinity of the 90/10, 80/20 and 70/30 copolyesters were significantly higher than those of comparable PET‐aliphatic polyester copolymers.