Synthesis and characterization of biodegradable aliphatic polyesters using dibutylmagnesium as initiator

Aliphatic polyesters were synthesized via the ring opening polymerization of the corresponding lactones initiated with dibutylmagnesium both in bulk and in solution. The resulting polymers were characterized by 1H, 13C NMR, GPC and XRD. The results indicated that dibutylmagnesium is an effective initiator for the ring opening polymerization of lactones.     

Synthesis, characterization and biodegradable studies of 1,3-propanediol based polyesters

A series of biodegradable polyesters were synthesized from dicarboxylic acids and 1,3-propanediol catalyzed by transestrification polycondensation reaction in the bulk. The structure, average molecular weights and physical properties of the resulting aliphatic polyesters were characterized by ¹H NMR, FT-IR, solution viscosity, GPC, DSC and TGA. Homopolyesters show higher degree of crystallinity, melting and thermal stability in comparison to copolyesters. The biodegradability of the polyesters was determined by monitoring the normalized weight loss of polyester films with time in phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) without and with Rhizopus delemar lipase at 37 °C. The rate of enzymatic degradation of homopolyesters follows the path PPSu > PPAd > PPSe. PPSe did not show significant weight loss in presence of enzyme which may be due to its highest degree of crystallinity and melting point compared to the PPSu, PPAd and copolyesters. In the soil burial degradation polyester sample showed severe surface degradation by the attack of microorganism.     

Synthesis and characterization of biodegradable-cum-crosslinkable well-defined polyesters via chain-growth polycondensation in solid-liquid phase

Well-defined aliphatic polyesters, polyglycolide (PGA), polylactide (PLA) and their copolymers (PLGA) were prepared by chain-growth polycondensation of potassium 2-bromocarboxylates in solid-liquid phase. The polymerization proceeded in a living fashion without any side reactions. The degrees of polymerization (D_p) of polyesters was in agreement with the feed ratio of monomer to initiator. The polymer, which was only composed of heptamer, octamer and nonamer, possessed a narrow molecular weight distribution. Furthermore, the end groups of polymers, such as allyl and phenyl units, were directly yielded during the polymerization for the further modifying and crosslinking. The synthesized polyesters with allyl end groups were successfully crosslinked, and the products possessed biodegradability in phosphate buffer solution at 37 °C.     

Synthesis and enzymatic degradation of end-functionalized biodegradable polyesters

End-functionalization of biodegradable polymers/oligomers based on L-lactide and glycolide by cholesteryl moiety was investigated. We established the feasibility of preparing the functionalized polymers/oligomers, Chol-(LG)_m+n, through ring-opening copolymerization initiated by cholesterol bearing a hydroxyl group, without adding any catalyst. The functionalized polymers/oligomers of different molecular weights were obtained by controlling the feed ratio of the initiator cholesterol to the monomers. The chemical structure of end-functionalized polymers/oligomers was confirmed by FTIR and ¹H NMR. Incorporation of cholesteryl moiety into the polymer chains induces liquid crystallinity in the resultant oligomers when the molecular chains are not very long. The enzymatic degradation studies, for all the samples, were carried out using enzyme, proteinase K. Interestingly, the enzymatic degradation of cholesteryl end-functionalized polymers/oligomers resulted in a lamella-like porous structure on the sample surface, which is altogether different from the commonly reported spherical-pore structure formed during the degradation of conventional polyesters.     

Synthesis, characterization and degradation of well-defined crosslinkable aliphatic polyesters end-capped by biomesogenic units

Novel biodegradable-cum-crosslinkable polyesters end-capped by biomesogenic units, cinnamic acid (CA) and ferulic acid (FA), were synthesized via chain-growth polycondensation in solid-liquid phase. The chemical structure of synthesized polymers was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR). The composition of polyesters, which was calculated by ¹H NMR, was in agreement with the feed ratios. The thermal properties and crystallinity of polyesters were measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), wide angle X-ray diffraction (WXRD) and polarizing-light microscopy (PLM). It was found that the polyesters possessed good crystallinity. Furthermore, the obtained polyesters could be crosslinked with methyl methacrylate (MMA), n-butyl acrylate (BA) and styrene (St) under thermal condition. The crosslinked products possessed degradability in phosphate buffer solution at 37 °C, which might be potentially applied as biomaterials.     

Thermal degradation kinetics of the biodegradable aliphatic polyester, poly(propylene succinate)

The preparation of the biodegradable aliphatic polyester poly(propylene succinate) (PPSu) using 1,3-propanediol and succinic acid is presented. Its synthesis was performed by two-stage melt polycondensation in a glass batch reactor. The polyester was characterized by gel permeation chromatography, ¹H NMR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It has a number average molecular weight 6880 g/mol, peak temperature of melting at 44 °C for heating rate 20 °C/min and glass transition temperature at −36 °C. After melt quenching it can be made completely amorphous due to its low crystallization rate. According to thermogravimetric measurements, PPSu shows a very high thermal stability as its major decomposition rate is at 404 °C (heating rate 10 °C/min). This is very high compared with aliphatic polyesters and can be compared to the decomposition temperature of aromatic polyesters. TG and Differential TG (DTG) thermograms revealed that PPSu degradation takes place in two stages, the first being at low temperatures that corresponds to a very small mass loss of about 7%, the second at elevated temperatures being the main degradation stage. Both stages are attributed to different decomposition mechanisms as is verified from activation energy determined with isoconversional methods of Ozawa, Flyn, Wall and Friedman. The first mechanism that takes place at low temperatures is auto-catalysis with activation energy E = 157 kJ/mol while the second mechanism is a first-order reaction with E = 221 kJ/mol, as calculated by the fitting of experimental measurements.     

Enzymatic synthesis and properties of novel biodegradable and biobased thermoplastic elastomers

Novel biodegradable and biobased thermoplastic elastomers, poly[dodecanolide-12-hydroxystearate (12HS)], poly(pentadecanolide-12HS) and poly(hexadecanolide-12HS) with M_ws of 140,000-290,000 g mol⁻¹ were prepared by the enzymatic copolymerization of a macrolide as the hard segment and methyl 12HS as the soft segment. Their thermal properties, such as T_m and T_c, were measured by DSC. Physicochemical and mechanical properties, such as crystallinity, were also measured. The polymer structures were analyzed with respect to the sequence of the two monomers by ¹H NMR spectroscopy using an europium shift reagent. The randomness of the two monomer units in the polymer chain increased with the polymerization time. Both Young’s modulus and tensile strength decreased with increasing 12HS content in the copolymer. In contrast, elongation at break increased with increasing 12HS content, thus demonstrating the copolymers’ elastomeric properties. These copolymers showed biodegradabilities by activated sludge, which also increased with increasing 12HS content.     

Biodegradable aliphatic/aromatic copolyesters based on terephthalic acid and poly(L-lactic acid): Synthesis, characterization and hydrolytic degradation

<正>Biodegradable aliphatic/aromatic copolyesters,poly(butylene terephthalate-co-lactate)(PBTL) were prepared via direct melt polycondensation of terephthalic acid(TPA),1,4-butanediol(BDO) and poly(L-lactic acid) oligomer(OLLA). The effects of polymerization time and temperature,as well as aliphatic/aromatic moiety ratio on the physical and thermal properties were investigated.The largest molecular weight of the copolyesters was up to 64100 with molecular weight distribution index of 2.09 when the polycondensation was carried out at 230℃for 6 h.DSC,XRD,DMA and TGA analysis clearly indicated that the degree of crystallinity,glass-transition temperature,melting point,decomposition temperature, tensile strength,elongation and Young's modulus were influenced by the ratio between TPA and OLLA in the final copolyesters.Hydrolytic degradation results demonstrated that the incorporation of biodegradable lactate moieties into the aromatic polyester could efficiently improve hydrolytic degradability of the copolymer even though it still had many aromatic units in the main chains.     

Room temperature synthesis and mechanical properties of two kinds of elastomeric interpenetrating polymer networks based on castor oil

Two kinds of interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) composed of two-component polyurethane (PU) and vinyl or methacrylic polymer (PV), namely, (polyether-castor oil)PU/PV IPN(I) and (polybutadiene-castor oil)PU/PV IPN(II), were synthesized at room temperature using benzoyl peroxide and N,N-dimethylaniline as redox initiator and dibutyltin dilaurate as catalyst. The former IPN was prepared by polymerization of castor oil, NCO-terminated polyether and vinyl or methacrylic monomer together and the latter IPN was obtained by polymerization of castor oil, NCO-terminated polybutadiene, NCO-terminated castor oil and vinyl or methacrylic monomer together. Various synthesis conditions affecting mechanical properties of the two kinds of IPNs were studied. Acrylonitrile (AN) is a good monomer for synthesizing IPN(I), but is a poor monomer for preparing IPN(II). At optimum conditions for the synthesis, both the (polyether-castor oil)PU/PAN IPNs and the (polybutadiene-castor oil)PU/polystyrene (PSt) IPNs possess permanent set about 10%, tensile strength over 13 and 11 MPa and ultimate elongation over 240% and 270%, respectively, thus behaving as elastomers. TEM micrograph of a (polybutadiene-castor oil)PU/PSt IPN showed a microphase separation in the IPN.     

Thermal degradation of aliphatic hyperbranched polyesters and their derivatives

In this study results of thermal degradation of aliphatic hyperbranched polyesters, AHBP, and their derivatives, determined by non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis in inert atmosphere (N₂) are presented. The thermal stability of linear polyester PHPA (polyhydroxypivalic acid), additionally synthesized from hydroxypivalic acid, was also studied. AHBP samples, from second to tenth pseudo-generation, were synthesized starting from 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid and di-trimethylolpropane. Modification of some selected AHBP samples was accomplished with the propionyl and benzoyl chloride, as well as with stearic acid. Thermal degradation of AHBP samples starts in the region between 250 °C and 275 °C and it ends around 430 °C. The thermal stability of AHBP samples increases with the number of end groups in the macromolecule, as well as with the modification of end groups with stearic acid and propionyl chloride. An AHBP sample of the fourth pseudo-generation, where all -OH end groups are modified with benzoyl chloride, shows lower thermal stability than the corresponding unmodified sample. The thermal stability of the linear polyester PHPA is lower than the thermal stability of the AHBP samples of the similar molar mass. The activation energies of thermal degradation for all synthesized AHBP samples were also calculated.     

Synthesis and properties of isocyanate curable millable polyurethane elastomers based on castor oil as a renewable resource polyol

Millable polyurethane elastomers based on difunctional castor oil and poly(propylene glycol), 2,4-toluene diisocyanate and 1,4-butane diol were prepared and cured using toluene diisocyanate dimer as crosslinking agent. All elastomers were characterized by conventional methods. Physical, thermal and mechanical properties of elastomers were studied. Investigation of these properties showed that the elastomers could be tailor made in order to fulfill industrial needs.     

Detailed molecular characterization of castor oil ethoxylates by liquid chromatography multistage mass spectrometry

The molecular characterization of castor oil ethoxylates (CASEOs) was studied by reverse-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) mass spectrometry (MS) and multistage mass spectrometry (MS(n)). The developed RPLC method allowed the separation of the various CASEO components, and especially, the baseline separation of multiple nominal isobars (same nominal mass) and isomers (same exact mass). MS and MS(n) were used for the determination and structure elucidation of various structures and for the discrimination of the isobars and isomers. Different ionization techniques and adduct ions were also tested for optimization of the MS detection and the MS(n) fragmentation. A unique fragmentation pathway of ricinoleic acid is proposed, which can be used as a marker of the polymerization process and the topology of ethoxylation in the CASEO. In addition, characteristic neutral losses of ricinoleic acid reveal its (terminal or internal) position in the molecule.     

Effect of molecular weight on thermal degradation mechanism of the biodegradable polyester poly(ethylene succinate)

A series of aliphatic polyesters, in particular poly(ethylene succinate), having different molecular weights, were synthesized from succinic acid and ethylene glycol, following the melt polycondensation process. Intrinsic viscosities (IV), GPC, DSC, ¹H NMR and carboxylic end group measurements were used for their characterisation. From thermogravimetric analysis, it was concluded that the molecular weight of polyesters achieved during polycondensation are strongly related to thermal stabilities of initial oligomers. In order to synthesise high molecular weight polyesters, the number average molecular weight of oligomers must not be lower than 2300–3000 g/mol, since thermal decomposition begins at temperatures lower than 200 °C. However, even in that case, polycondensation temperatures must not exceed 230–240 °C. From TGA studies, it was found that sample having different molecular weights could be divided into two groups characterized by different thermal stability. In the first group, belong samples with intrinsic viscosity of IV = 0.08 dL/g and in the second one all the other samples (IV > 15 dL/g). From kinetic analysis of thermal degradation, it was found that degradation of all polyesters takes place in three stages, its one corresponding to a different mechanisms. Degradation of samples with low molecular weight is more complex that that of polyesters having high molecular weights. The values of the activation energy and the exponent n for the two groups of samples—with different molecular weight—are similar, regarding the first two mechanisms, while there is an alteration in the case of the third mechanism.     

Synthesis and comparative biodegradability studies of three poly(alkylene succinate)s

Poly(alkylene succinates) were synthesized from succinic acid and aliphatic diols with 2 to 4 methylene groups by melt polycondensation. DSC, ¹H NMR, WAXD and molecular weight measurements were used to characterise the polymers. Biodegradability studies of polyesters with the same average molecular weight, included enzymatic hydrolysis for several days using Rhizopus delemar lipase at pH 7.2 and 30 °C. DSC traces of biodegraded polyesters revealed that hydrolysis affected mainly the amorphous material. For all polyesters an increase in glass transition, melting point and heat of fusion was recorded. In the first days of enzymatic hydrolysis, fast rates of mass loss were observed accompanied by a rapid reduction of intrinsic viscosity and molecular weight, thus indicating a mixed endo- and exo-type hydrolysis mechanism. Afterwards, it turned to an exo-type mechanism, taking place in the crystalline phase, since after 15-25 days of enzymatic hydrolysis molecular weight was stabilized, while mass loss kept on decreasing though in a slower rate. End-group analysis revealed that carboxyl and hydroxyl groups increased due to ester bonds' scission. The biodegradation rates of the polymers decreased following the order PPSu > PESu ≥ PBSu and it was attributed to the lower crystallinity of PPSu compared to other polyesters, rather than to differences in chemical structure. Finally, a simple theoretical kinetic model was developed and Michaelis-Menten parameters were estimated.     

Synthesis and characterization of aromatic polyesters with dicyanovinyl substituents

The synthesis, characterization, and structure—property relations of aromatic polyesters with dicyanovinyl substituents is presented. Two comparable series of polyesters based on 3,4-dihydroxybenzylidenemalononitrile and 3,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxybenzylidenemalononitrile were prepared. As aromatic diacid components, terephthalic acid, phenylterephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, and 2-phenylisophthalic acid were used. The polyesters were prepared by solution polycondensation. GPC investigations revealed the existence of substantial amounts of defined cyclic products. These cycles could be isolated by preparative GPC. The polyesters are soluble in common low boiling organic solvents, particularly the phenyl-substituted ones. The polyesters are amorphous and have glass transition temperatures between 140 and 170°C. The absorption maxima are in the 306–322 nm range. The cut-off wavelength is between 400 and 428 nm. The polyesters with methoxy substitutent have generally the absorptions at longer wavelength. The refractive index of thin films of these polyesters were between 1.61 and 1.63 at 632.8 nm. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Pyrolysis of vegetable oil soaps—Palm, olive, rapeseed and castor oils

Saponified, palm, olive, rapeseed and castor oils were pyrolysed (at 750 °C for 20 s) by pyrolysis gas chromatography with mass selective and flame ionisation detection (Py-GC/MSD and FID) to clarify their thermochemical behaviours. The liquefiable compounds recovered from palm, olive and rapeseed oils mainly contained linear alkenes (up to C₁₉) and alkanes (up to C₁₇), both similar to those found in gasoline (C₄-C₁₀) and diesel fuel (C₁₁-C₂₂) boiling range fractions of petroleum, whereas in the case of castor oil a significant amount of undesired oxygen-containing products (e.g., ketones and phenols) were formed. The obtained data on reaction mechanisms can also be utilised in applications where various biofuels are produced, for example, from the extractive-derived by-product (tall oil) of kraft pulping.     

Synthesis and characterization of hyperbranched polyesters from glycerol‐based AB2 monomer

This article describes the synthesis of a new glycerol‐based AB₂ type monomer—ethyl{3‐[2‐hydroxy‐1‐(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy]propyl}thioacetate ( 4 ) and its application for the preparation of hyperbranched polyesters. The polycondensation of 4 has been performed over a wide range of catalysts and reaction conditions leading to polymers containing solely primary hydroxyl groups. The polycondensation progress has been monitored by means of ¹H NMR. The degree of branching of the polymers showed to be in the range of 0.5 ± 0.03. The obtained polyesters easily undergo hydrolysis or alcoholysis and may be of interest as recycled materials. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3860–3868, 2009     

Colloids based on gold nanoparticles dispersed in castor oil: Synthesis parameters and the effect of the free fatty acid content

Herein, we present our results related to the synthesis of colloidal solutions of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) dispersed in castor oil. These colloids were prepared via a wet chemistry process by mixing specific amounts of castor oil, ethanol, and aqueous solutions of tetrachloroauric(III) acid and sodium hydroxide. The size and shape of the AuNPs obtained could be modulated by the amount of gold source added and the Au/OH^– molar ratio used. In this study, we observed that the free fatty acid content in the reaction medium was an important parameter to be considered in the syntheses of the colloidal solutions and the respective form and shape of the AuNPs produced. Thus, we evaluated the effect of oil acidity by adding different amounts of myristic acid (MA) in the reaction medium. The colloids were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, and the size and shape of the AuNPs produced were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).     

FTIR analysis of hydrolysis in aliphatic polyesters

Infrared (IR) spectroscopy was adopted to study the hydrolytic degradation of films of aliphatic polyesters in alkaline environment. A measurable increase with the time of immersion of the absorbance of the peak centered at about 1570 cm⁻¹ was observed. Analysis of the IR spectra showed that the integrated peak area in that region can be used to quantify changes in the concentration of degradation products and thus to provide indications regarding the kinetic constant of the hydrolysis reaction. It was found that the hydrolysis of ester bonds proceeds linearly with time, and this result suggests that the controlling mechanism is the chemical reaction rather than water diffusion. The results also show that degradation rate increases with increasing polydispersity.     

Polyethylene like polymers. Aliphatic polyesters of dodecanedioic acid: 1. Synthesis and properties

A series of aliphatic polyesters has been synthesized starting from 1,12-dodecanedioic acid and aliphatic diols, bearing from 2 to 12 carbon atoms. These polymers, which were fully characterized in terms of chemical structure, molecular weight and thermal behaviour, were obtained as crystalline materials with melting points ranging from 70 to 90 °C and with a relatively high molecular weight. All the monomers used can be obtained from biomasses, as a consequence these materials can be an interesting alternative to synthetic polymers produced from petrochemical processes based on nonrenewable resources.