Polyester oligomers

Polyester composition can be determined by hydrolytic depolymerization followed by gas chromatography (28) to analyze for monomers, comonomers, oligomers, and other components including side-reaction products (ie, DEG, vinyl groups, aldehydes), plasticizers, and finishes. Mass spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy can provide valuable composition information, including end group analysis (47,101,102). X-ray fluorescence is commonly used to determine metals content of polymers, from sources including catalysts, delusterants, or tracer materials added for fiber identification purposes (28,102,103). 

Alternative technology for modifying a poly(aLkylene terephthalate) by incorporation of a phosphinate stmcture has been developed by Enichem. Phosphinate units of the stmcture —P(CgH5) (0)CH20— are introduced into a polyester such as PET or PBT by transesterification with an oligomer comprised of the aforementioned units (136). 

The polymer is then dried thoroughly and stored for subsequent processing. Whenever a polyester is made by melt polycondensation, a small amount of cycHc oligomer is formed which is in equiHbrium with the polymer. This can be extracted with solvents from soHd polymer but when the... 

Vinyl ethers can also be formulated with acryHc and unsaturated polyesters containing maleate or fumarate functionaHty. Because of their abiHty to form alternating copolymers by a free-radical polymeri2ation mechanism, such formulations can be cured using free-radical photoinitiators. With acryHc monomers and oligomers, a hybrid approach has been taken using both simultaneous cationic and free-radical initiation. A summary of these approaches can be found in Table 9. 

Liquid organic rubbers with reactive functionality can be prepared by several methods. End-functional oligomers are preferred. Chains attached to the network at only one end do not contribute as much strength to the network as those attached at both ends [34], Urethane chemistry is a handy route to such molecules. A hydroxy-terminated oligomer (commonly a polyester or a polyether) can be reacted with excess diisocyanate, and then with a hydroxy methacrylate to form a reactive toughener [35]. The methacrylate ends undergo copolymerization with the rest of the acrylic monomers. The resulting adhesive is especially effective on poIy(vinyl chloride) shown in Scheme 2. 

FIGURE 12,3 Separation of polyester oligomers, 2 X PLgel 3 jum MIXED-E 300 X 7.5 mm, eluent THE at 1.0 ml/min, evaporative light scattering detector... 

Fatty acids, both saturated and unsaturated, have found a variety of applications. Brassilic acid (1,11-un-decanedicarboxylic acid [BA]), an important monomer used in many polymer applications, is prepared from erucic acid (Scheme 2), obtained from rapeseed and crambe abyssinica oils by ozonolysis and oxidative cleavage [127]. For example, an oligomer of BA with 1,3-butane diol-lauric acid system is an effective plasticizer for polyvinylchloride. Polyester-based polyurethane elastomers are prepared from BA by condensing with ethylene glycol-propylene glycol. Polyamides based on BA are known to impart moisture resistance. 

The free radicals then initiate curing by attacking residual double bonds in acrylic oligomers and monomers, or in styrene and unsaturated polyester resins. Since most pigments absorb u.v. radiation and can prevent it reaching sufficient photoinitiator molecules, this technique is best suited to transparent coatings or thin pigmented layers (e.g. inks). 

Coating materials may be based on short or medium-oil alkyds (e.g. primers for door and window frames) nitrocellulose or thermoplastic acrylics (e.g. lacquers for paper or furniture finishes) amino resin-alkyd coatings, with or without nitrocellulose inclusions, but with a strong acid catalyst to promote low temperature cure (furniture finishes) two-pack polyurethanes (furniture, flat boards) unsaturated polyester resins in styrene with free-radical cure initiated by peroxides (furniture) or unsaturated acrylic oligomers and monomers cured by u.v. radiation or electron beams (coatings for record sleeves paperback covers, knock-down furniture or flush interior doors). 

Hie most representative member of this class of polyesters is the low-molar-mass (M 1000-3000) hydroxy-terminated aliphatic poly(2,2/-oxydiethylene adipate) obtained by esterification between adipic acid and diethylene glycol. This oligomer is used as a macromonomer in the synthesis of polyurethane elastomers and flexible foams by reaction with diisocyanates (see Chapter 5). Hydroxy-terminated poly(f -caprolactonc) and copolyesters of various diols or polyols and diacids, such as o-phthalic acid or hydroxy acids, broaden the range of properties and applications of polyester polyols. 

Although low-molar-mass aliphatic polyesters and unsaturated polyesters can be synthesized without added catalyst (see Sections 2.4.1.1.1 and 2.4.2.1), the presence of a catalyst is generally required for the preparation of high-molar-mass polyesters. Strong acids are very efficient polyesterification catalysts but also catalyze a number of side reactions at elevated temperature (>160°C), leading to polymers of inferior quality. Acid catalysts are, therefore, not much used. An exception is the bulk synthesis of hyperbranched polyesters reported in Section 2.4.5.1, which is carried out at moderate temperature (140°C) under vacuum in the presence of p-toluene sulfonic acid catalyst. The use of strongly acidic oil-soluble catalysts has also been reported for the low-temperature synthesis of polyester oligomers in water-in-oil emulsions.216... 

The reported molar masses of polyesters obtained by enzymatic catalysis are relatively low, generally below 8000, except for polymers recovered by precipitation.336 This procedure results in the elimination of a soluble fraction consisting of low-molar-mass linear and cyclic oligomers.336 An Mw as high as 46,400 has thus been reported for a poly(tetramethylene decanedioate) obtained... 

Many ester-forming reactions reported in the literature cannot be applied to the synthesis of polyesters due to side reactions, incomplete conversions, or non-quantitative yields. Some examples of nonconventional polyester syntheses are listed below. Most of them lead to oligomers rather titan polymers and require expensive reactants or special reaction conditions, which make them of little practical interest. 

Note Purification by precipitation results in the elimination of low-molar-mass oligomers and cyclics and yields polyesters with narrower distributions than the theoretical one (/p = 2). 

Polyurethanes are thermoset polymers formed from di-isocyanates and poly functional compounds containing numerous hydroxy-groups. Typically the starting materials are themselves polymeric, but comprise relatively few monomer units in the molecule. Low relative molar mass species of this kind are known generally as oligomers. Typical oligomers for the preparation of polyurethanes are polyesters and poly ethers. These are usually prepared to include a small proportion of monomeric trifunctional hydroxy compounds, such as trimethylolpropane, in the backbone, so that they contain pendant hydroxyls which act as the sites of crosslinking. A number of different diisocyanates are used commercially typical examples are shown in Table 1.2. 

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