Long-chain aliphatic polyesters from plant oils for injection molding, film extrusion and electrospinning

Abstract

The polycondensation of long-chain α,ω-diesters with long-chain α,ω-diols, prepared by means of catalytic conversion of plant oils, affords linear aliphatic polyesters. They contain both long crystallizable polyethylene-like hydrocarbon segments and ester moieties in the backbone. In a convenient catalytic one-step process a high-purity polycondensation grade dimethyl-1,19-nonadecanedioate monomer is obtained directly from the technical grade methyl ester of high oleic sunflower oil. Likewise, dimethyl-1,23-tricosanedioate is derived from methyl erucate. The successful scale-up renders both intermediates available on a 100 g scale. Injection molded parts of polyester-19.19 and -23.23 with a number average molecular mass of M_n = 3 × 10⁴ g mol⁻¹ possess an elongation at break of >600% and a Young's modulus of 400 MPa. Electrospinning produces non-woven meshes. The polyesters prepared even enable film extrusion and represent new blend components for a variety of thermoplastics including polyethylene.