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Preparation and Polymerization of Ethylene 2,6-Naphthalenedicarboxylate Cyclic Oligomers
Macromolecules (2000)
  • William MacKnight, University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • Ji Ho Youk
  • Roger P. Kambour
Abstract
Ethylene 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate cyclic oligomers (ENCs) were prepared by the ring/ chain equilibration (cyclodepolymerization) ofpoly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate) (PEN) in dilute solution of biphenyl and polymerized with antimony trioxide. ENCs thus prepared consisted of a distribution of oligomeric species displaying a broad melting range from 330 to 370 •c. ENC trimer (C3) was recrystallized from EN Cs solution in 1,4-dioxane, and its purity was assessed by the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometric analysis. C3 is the main component in EN Cs, and its melting temperature is 370 •c. ENCs containing the diethylene glycol (DEG) unit were detected in the high-pressure liquid chromatography and MALDI-TOF analysis. ENCs and EN Cs/ethylene terephthalate cyclic oligomers (ETCs) blends were polymerized with 0.5 mol % antimony trioxide at temperatures ranging from 320 to 365 °C for 5 min under a nitrogen atmosphere. The highest molecular weight (MW) (IV = 0.41 dUg) was obtained from the polymerization of ENCs at 355 •c for 5 min. In the case of ENCsJETCs blends, although the polymerization temperatures were decreased by adding ETCs, high MW polyesters were not obtained due to polymerization temperatures that nevertheless were still too high. PEN polymerized from ENCs showed the same thermal behaviors as the commercial product. Consequently, it was found that antimony trioxide is an effective catalyst for ENCs polymeri­zation, but the melting and polymerization temperatures ofENCs need to be decreased to obtain PEN of higher MW. 
Keywords
  • Preparation,
  • Polymerization,
  • Ethylene 2 6-Naphthalendicarboxylate,
  • Cyclic Oligomers
Disciplines
Publication Date
2000
Citation Information
William MacKnight, Ji Ho Youk and Roger P. Kambour. "Preparation and Polymerization of Ethylene 2,6-Naphthalenedicarboxylate Cyclic Oligomers" Macromolecules Iss. 33 (2000) p. 3606 - 3610
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/william_macknight/221/