Hydroxy-terminated poly(ε-caprolactone-co-δ-valerolactone) oligomers: Synthesis,characterization, and polyurethane network formation

Difunctional hydroxy-terminated poly(ε-caprolactone-co-ε-valerolactone) (PCV) oligomers were synthesized by the diol-initiated bulk copolymerization of ε-caprolactone (C) and δ-valerolactone (V). The two homopolymers were semicrystalline, with almost identical melting temperatures; copolymerization significantly lowered the melting point (T_m) compared to either homopolymer. Copolymer melting points were found to decrease with decreasing molecular weight and to be dependent on composition, i.e., the incorporation of a comonomer into either homopolymer resulted in a decrease in T_m, with the maximum decrease occurring at a copolymer composition of about 60 mol % ε-caprolactone. The molar compositions of the copolyesters were determined from ¹³C-NMR spectra. The reactivity ratios of the two monomers (M₁ = C, M₂ = V) were determined to the r₁ = 0.25 and r₂ = 0.49. Number average molecular weight (M?_n) of the PCV diols was inversely proportional to the initial diol concentration within the studied molecular weight range of 900 to 11,100 g/mol. Crosslinked polyurethane networks were prepared by reacting PCV diols with triphenylmethane triisocyanate. Network characterization included determination of sol content by solvent extraction, glass transition (T_g) and T_m by DSC, and tensile properties by stress-strain measurements. Completely amorphous networks resulted from PCV diols of M?_n ≤ 2,400; semicrystalline networks resulted from PCV diols of M?_n ≥ 3,600.