Synthesis and Characterization of Comb-Like Copolymers Based on Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) and Poly(alpha-olefin)

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Sabina Kinder - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Hartmut Komber - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Dieter Jehnichen - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Liane Haeussler - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Frank Boehme - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Mazen Garaleh - , Tafila Technical University (Author)
  • Doris Pospiech - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Brigitte Voit - , Chair of Organic Chemistry of Polymers, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Ulrich Schulze - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)

Abstract

Comb-like copolymers based on a polyolefin backbone of poly(10-undecene-1-ol) (PUol) with poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) side chains are synthesized in two steps. After synthesis of PUol by metallocene-catalyzed polymerization, the side-chain hydroxyl functionalities of this polar polyolefin are used as an initiator for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of epsilon-caprolactone (CL). In this context, copolymers with different lengths of PCL grafts are prepared. The chemical structure and the composition of the synthesized copolymers are characterized by H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy. It is shown that the hydroxyl end groups of PUol act effectively as initiating sites for the CL ROP. Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) measurements confirm the absence of non-attached PCL and the expected increase in molar mass after grafting. The thermal and decomposition behaviors are investigated by DSC and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The effect of the length of the PCL grafts on the crystallization behavior of the comb-like copolymers is investigated by DSC and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS).

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)733-741
Number of pages9
JournalMacromolecular chemistry and physics : MCP
Volume215
Issue number8
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2014
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 84899433295
ORCID /0000-0002-4531-691X/work/148607915

Keywords

Keywords

  • Comb-like copolymers, Metallocene catalysts, Poly(10-undecene-1-ol), Poly(epsilon-caprolactone), Ring-opening polymerization