Low Melting Point Thermoplastic Polyether Ester Elastomer Modified with Adipic Acid

Abstract

In order to regulate the crystallization properties of thermoplastic polyether ester elastomer (TPEE), a new monomer, long-chain aliphatic dibasic acid adipic acid (AA), was introduced into the synthesis process of TPEE. By designing the copolymerization ratio of the monomer and optimizing the corresponding synthesis process, various compositions of P(BT-co-BA)-b-PTMG copolyether ester, known as TPEEA, were achieved. The sequence structure, thermal properties, and crystallization behavior of TPEE were characterized and tested. The effects of different proportions of AA on the properties of TPEE materials were primarily discussed. The results show that the TPEEA with different copolymerization ratios has been successfully prepared as confirmed by 1H-NMR. Additionally, the PTMG segment exhibits a certain degree of thermal degradation during the TPEEA synthesis process. The DSC test revealed that the addition of AA disrupted the crystallization property of TPEE, leading to a decrease in both the melting point and hot crystallization temperature as the copolymerization ratio increased. The melt index test results show that the melt index of TPEEA increases gradually as the copolymerization ratio of AA increases. The results can be used as a reference for the development of copolyether ester system.

Keywords: Direct esterification, Polycopolymerization, Crystallization property, Thermal degradation, Melt fluidity