Macromolecules, Vol.40, No.22, 7919-7927, 2007
Enzymatic synthesis and solid-state properties of aliphatic polyesteramides with polydimethylsiloxane blocks
The synthesis of silicone polyesteramides was successfully performed in bulk at 70 degrees C via a biocatalytic route. Immobilized Candida antartica Lipase B (Novozym 435, N435) was used as catalyst under mild conditions to perform the polycondensation reaction using various feed mole ratios of diethyl adipate (DEA), 1,8-octanediol (01)), and (alpha,omega-(diaminopropyl)polydimethylsiloxane (Si-NH2). The syntheses of poly(octamethylene adipate), POA, and poly(alpha,omega)-(diaminopropyl)polydimethylsiloxane adipamide), PSiAA, were also performed by N435 catalysis in order to compare their properties with those of silicone polyesteramides. The microstructures of all polymers were studied by H-1 NMR spectroscopy, and calculated amide/ester ratios were in agreement with the monomer feed mole ratio. Formation of amide links (DEA-SiAA units) occurs more rapidly than ester repeats (DEA-OA units). This results in copolymers that tend toward a blocklike sequence distribution. Thermal stability of the polyesteramides, evaluated by TGA both in nitrogen and in. air, increases with DEA- SiAA content (up to 50 mol %). The relative amount of amide and ester units along the polymer chain strongly affects the physical aspect of the polyesteramides. High content of DEA-OA units leads to hard solid materials containing a well-developed high melting POA-type crystal phase, whose melting temperature changes with composition. When DEA-SiAA units are the major component, the material acquires a sticky appearance.