Polyester step-growth reaction

Polyesters, polyetherimide, melamine-formaldehyde, polyurethanes, polyurethane-ureas and polyamides (nylons) are examples of condensation polymers prepared by REX. " Because a small molecule is produced in condensation reactions, vent ports are employed. Between the ports are melt sealing screw sections, to prevent back mixing of volatilizing melt. Sealing screw sections are constructed by a right handed-left handed sequence of screw elements. Another chemistry feature of step-growth reactions is their sensitivity to errors in stoichiometric feed proportions. This poses problems with solid feed materials, which are normally converted to liquid form for more... 

One of the most complex types of step-growth reaction is that between a di-glycol, HOROH, and a di-isocyanate, 0=C=NR N=C=0, to produce a polyurethane, which contains the structural unit —O—R O—(C=0)—(NH)—R (NH)—(C=0)—. Several subsidiary reactions can also take place and, although all of the possible reaction products are unlikely to be present simultaneously, polyurethanes usually have complex structures. Thermoplastic polyurethanes are copolymers that usually incorporate sequences of polyester or polyether segments. 

HMF is a suitable precursor for the synthesis of bifunctional furan monomers as summarized in Scheme 4. All these monomers can be used to prepare polycondensates by step-growth reactions with the other corresponding bifunc-tional monomers derived either from petrochemical precursors or from renewable resources. The polycondensates obtained, such as polyesters, polyamides, and polyurethanes, etc. have been characterized [107-113]. Scheme 5 shows another approach for the synthesis of bifunctional monomers through acid-catalyzed condensation of the corresponding mono-functional furan derivatives with an aldehyde... 

HMF on the other hand, is ideally suited as a precursor to bifunctional furan monomers to be used in step growth reactions as shown in Scheme 6.12 which includes FDCA and FCDA. Again, all these compounds wctc synthesized and used to prepare the corresponding polycondensates, like polyesters, polyamides, polyurethanes, etc [4]. 

The preceding discussions of the kinetics and molecular weight distributions in the step-growth polymerization of AB monomers are clearly exemplified by the esterification reactions of such monomers as glycolic acid or co-hydroxydecanoic acid. Therefore one method for polyester synthesis is the following ... 

As with polyesters, the amidation reaction of acid chlorides may be carried out in solution because of the enhanced reactivity of acid chlorides compared with carboxylic acids. A technique known as interfacial polymerization has been employed for the formation of polyamides and other step-growth polymers, including polyesters, polyurethanes, and polycarbonates. In this method the polymerization is carried out at the interface between two immiscible solutions, one of which contains one of the dissolved reactants, while the second monomer is dissolved in the other. Figure 5.7 shows a polyamide film forming at the interface between an aqueous solution of a diamine layered on a solution of a diacid chloride in an organic solvent. In this form interfacial polymerization is part of the standard repertoire of chemical demonstrations. It is sometimes called the nylon rope trick because of the filament of nylon produced by withdrawing the collapsed film. 

The alkene and diene polymers discussed in Sections 7.10 and 14.6 are called chain-growth polymers because they are produced by chain reactions. An initiator adds to a C=C bond to give a reactive intermediate, which adds to a second alkene molecule to produce a new1 intermediate, which adds to a third molecule, and so on. By contrast, polyamides and polyesters are called step-growth polymers because each bond in the polymer is formed independently of the others. A large number of different step-growth polymers have been made some of the more important ones are shown in Table 21.2. 

Step-growth polymers, such as polyamides and polyesters, are prepared by reactions between difunctional molecules. Polyamides (nylons) are formed by reaction between a diacid and a diamine polyesters are formed from a diacid and a diol. 

Step-growth polymers are produced by reactions in which each bond in the polymer is formed stepwise, independently of the others. Like the polyamides (nylons) and polyesters that we saw in Section 21.9, most step-growth polymers... 

The most common form of step growth polymerization is condensation polymerization. Condensation polymers are generally formed from simple reactions involving two different monomers. The monomers are difunctional, having a chemically reactive group on each end of their molecules. Examples of condensation polymerization are the formation of nylon 66, a polyamide, and of poly(ethylene terephthalate), a polyester. Because condensation poly-... 

We encounter homogeneous catalysts in both step-growth and chain-growth polymerization processes. We saw several examples of these types of reactions in Chapter 2. For example, the acid catalyzed polymerization of polyesters occurs via a homogeneous process as do some metallocene catalyzed polymerization of polyolefins. 

Step-growth condensation polymers, such as polyesters and polyamides, are formed by reversible reactions. In the case of PET, the commercial synthesis is essentially carried out by two reactions. The first is the formation of bishydroxyethyl terephthalate by esterification of a diacid with a glycol or by transesterification of a diester with a glycol. The second is the formation of the polymer by a polycondensation reaction. 

Although we will not be discussing the mechanism of each type of step growth polymer because these reactions are very similar to the corresponding monomer chemistry, we should be aware of this analogy. For instance, an acid reacts with an alcohol under acid-catalyzed conditions by a certain well-studied and proven mechanism. This same mechanism is followed each time an ester linkage of a polyester is formed. One such transformation is outlined in Fig. 14.8. The equilibrium is shifted in the direction of the product by distillation of the water from the reaction mixture (and condensing it in a separate container—hence the name condensation polymers for this type). 

Step-growth, or condensation, polymers are usually formed in a reaction between two monomers, each of which is at least difunctional. Polyesters, polyamides, polyurethanes, and epoxy resins are typical examples of step-growth polymers. These polymers grow by steps or leaps rather than one monomer unit at a time. 

Carothers pioneering studies were also based on aliphatic polyesters and then culminated in laying the foundations for condensation and step-growth polymerization and in establishing a relationship between molar mass and extent of reaction and the stoichiometric imbalance of functional groups. Fundamental studies relating structure to properties were carried out using these polymers. 

One important group of condensation polymers is the polyesters. The most important commercial polyester is formed from the reaction of terephthalic acid (a diacid) with ethylene glycol (a diol). This polymerization occurs in a stepwise fashion (hence the name step growth polymerization). First, one carboxylic acid group of a diacid molecule and one hydroxy group of a diol molecule combine to form an ester, with the loss of water. Then a second diol molecule reacts with the unreacted caiboxylic group on the other end of the diacid molecule, or a second diacid molecule reacts with the unreacted hydroxy group of the diol. Continuation of this process adds a new monomer unit at... 

Many of our common polymers are made by this type of reaction, including polyesters, nylons, polycarbonates, polyurethanes, and polyaramids (e.g., Kevlar). Many natural polymers, including cellulose, starch, proteins, and polynucleotides are also step-growth polymers. 

Interfaciarpolymerization can be used to make many types of step-growth polymers such as polyamides, polyesters, polycarbonates, and polyurethanes. Although most step-growth polymers are prepared by a melt process, somd specialty polymers are prepared by the interfacial technique, allowing rapid reaction at low temperatures. 

In this experiment, both linear and crosslinked polyesters are synthesized by step-growth polymerization The reactions are carried out in the melt (or neat), meaning that no solvents are used in the preparation and the final product does not have to be purified. Preparations such as these are sometimes called green reactions. 

Condensation polymers result from formation of ester or amide linkages between difunctional molecules. Condensation polymerization usually proceeds by step-growth polymerization, in which any two monomer molecules may react to form a dimer, and dimers may condense to give tetramers, and so on. Each condensation is an individual step in the growth of the polymer, and there is no chain reaction. Many kinds of condensation polymers are known. We discuss the four most common types polyamides, polyesters, polycarbonates, and polyurethanes. 

Figure 5.21. Reaction schemes for the most common types of step-growth polymerization. Shown are (a/c) polyester formation, (b/d) polyamide formation, (e) polyamide formation through reaction of an acid chloride with a diamine, (f) transesterification involving a carboxylic acid ester and an alcohol, (g) polybenzimidazole formation through condensation of a dicarboxyhc add and aromatic tetramines, and (h) polyimide formation from the reaction of dianhydrides and diamines.

In step-growth polymerizations with unfavorable values of K, it is therefore standard practice to operate at high temperatures and reduced pressures to remove the condensation products. This is typical of the manufacture of linear polyesters where the final stages of the polymerization are at pressures near I mm Hg and temperatures near 280 C. Alkyds (Section 5.4.2) are branched polyesters produced by esterification reactions of mixtures of polyhydric alcohols and acids with varying functionalities. They are used primarily in surface coatings. Alkyd syntheses are completed at temperatures near 240°C. It is not necessary to reduce the pressure to pull residual water out of the reaction mixture, because the final products are relatively low-molecular-weight fluids that are diluted with organic solvents before further use. In one process variation, a small amount of a solvent like xylene is added to the reactants to facilitate water removal by azeotropic... 

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