Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.74, No.7, 1858-1867, 1999
Poly(ethylene terephthalate)-poly(caprolactone) block copolymer. I. Synthesis, reactive extrusion, and fiber morphology
A novel poly(ethylene terephthalate)-poly(caprolactone) block copolymer (PET-PCL) is synthesized in a reactive twin-screw extrusion process. In the presence of stannous octoate, ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone is initiated by the hydroxyl end groups of molten PET to form polycaprolactone blocks. A block copolymer with minimal transesterification is obtained in a twin-screw extruder as a consequence of the fast distributive mixing of epsilon-caprolactone into high melt viscosity PET and the short reaction time. The PET-CL structure is characterized by IV, GPC, H-1-NMR, and DSC. Fully drawn and partially relaxed fibers spun from PET-PCL are characterized by WAXD and SAXS. A substantial decrease in the oriented amorphous fraction appears to be the major structural change in the relaxed fiber that provides the fiber with the desired stress-strain characteristics.
Keywords:RAY-DIFFRACTION SCANS;SEMICRYSTALLINE POLYMERS;EPSILON-CAPROLACTONE;POLYMERIZATION;LACTIDE;POLY(ETHYLENE-TEREPHTHALATE);POLY(EPSILON-CAPROLACTONE);POLYLACTONES;MECHANISM