Synthesis and properties of trimethylene carbonate/l-lactide copolymers obtained with the use of zinc-based initiators. (June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pastusiak, Malgorzata; Dobrzynski, Piotr; Janeczek, Henryk; Kaczmarczyk, Bozena; Kasperczyk, Janusz
• Is Part Of: Materials today communications. Volume 7(2016)
• Page Start: 140
• Page End: 148
• Publication Date: 2016-06
• Subjects: Copolymerization -- Cyclic carbonates -- Trimethylene carbonate -- l-Lactide -- Acetylacetonates -- Zinc complexes; Materials science -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2016.04.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-4928

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Abstract: A series of trimethylene carbonate/l -lactide copolymers with varied comonomers composition were synthesized in bulk, using zinc (II) acetylacetonate and ethyl zinc (II) ethoxide as initiators. The values of the reactivity ratios were determined and they were respectively: rLA = 5.06 and rTMC = 0.89 in case of zinc (II) acetylacetonate and rLA = 13.3 and rTMC = 0.33 in case of ethyl zinc (II) ethoxide. Observed significant differences in reactivity of the comonomers and weak ratio of transesterification processes, resulted in formation of their specific, tapered chains microstructure. This phenomenon caused differences in physico-chemical properties compared to the previously presented TMC/l -lactide copolymers obtained with other initiators. The presence of long lactidyl blocks caused much higher crystallinity of the copolymers. Investigation indicates on the spherolytic crystal morphology.