Issue 9, 2015

Tuning thermal properties and microphase separation in aliphatic polyester ABA copolymers

Abstract

Four alkyl substituted β-lactones were investigated as monomers in ring opening polymerisation to produce a family of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)s. Homopolymers were synthesised using a robust aluminium salen catalyst, resulting in polymers with low dispersity (Đ < 1.1) and predictable molecular weights. ABA triblock copolymers were prepared using poly(L-lactic acid) as the A block and the aforementioned poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) as the B block via a sequential addition method. Characterisation of these copolymers determined they were well controlled with low dispersities and predictable molecular weight. DSC analysis determined copolymers prepared from β-butyrolactone or β-valerolactone yielded polymers with tunable and predictable thermal properties. Copolymers prepared from β-heptanolactone yielded a microphase separated material as indicated by SAXS, with two distinct Tgs. The polymers could be readily cast into flexible films and their improved tensile properties were explored.

Graphical abstract: Tuning thermal properties and microphase separation in aliphatic polyester ABA copolymers

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 Oct 2014
Accepted
29 Nov 2014
First published
01 Dec 2014
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Polym. Chem., 2015,6, 1445-1453

Author version available

Tuning thermal properties and microphase separation in aliphatic polyester ABA copolymers

J. P. MacDonald, M. P. Parker, B. W. Greenland, D. Hermida-Merino, I. W. Hamley and M. P. Shaver, Polym. Chem., 2015, 6, 1445 DOI: 10.1039/C4PY01459F

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