Investigations on Preparation and Characterization of Certain Copolyesters

Abstract

In this paper, we report on the synthesis and characterization of high molecular weight copolyesters from Terephthalic acid, 1, 4 butane diol and Succinic acid /Sebacic acid through a two step process of melt polycondensation using titanium tetra butoxide as catalyst. The synthesized aromatic-aliphatic random copolyesters were characterized by means of FTIR, 1H NMR,13C NMR, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) studies. The effect of copolymer composition on the physical and thermal properties as well as degradation test was investigated. The degradation test was carried out in alkali medium. The phase behaviour of the polymers was studied by differential scanning calorimetry and optical polarising microscopy. The results revealed that the newly synthesized copolyesters exhibited degradability and thermotropic liquid crystalline behaviour with nematic texture which was revealed by optical polarising microscopy. The Novelty of this work is that the glass transition temperature and melting temperature are above the room temperature for the synthesized polymers. This shows the good thermal stability which results in early processing of liquid crystalline materials.

Keywords

• Aliphatic - Aromatic copolyesters
• Melt polycondensation
• Degradation
• Liquid crystalline