Preparation of Poly(ether-ester) Copolymers with Poly(butylene 2,6-naphthalate) Hard Segments

Abstract: Melting temperature of the poly(ether-ester) copolymers are generally around 200 o C and are suitable formoisture barrier in active sportswear, but higher melting temperatures are required for them to be used in personal pro-tective clothing. In an attempt to obtain higher melting poly(ether-ester) copolymers, copolymerization of bishydroxy-butyl naphthalate and poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(propylene glycol)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) tri-block copolymers(EPE) was carried out to obtain poly(butylene 2,6-naphthalate)/EPE copolymers with poly(butylene 2,6-naphthalate)(PBN) as hard segments and EPE as soft segments. PBN/EPE copolymers containing different amounts of EPE (0, 5,10, 20 and 30 wt%) of different molecular weights (1100, 2000, 2800 and 5800) were prepared. Composition analysis,solution viscosity and density measurements were made. The composition of copolymers determined from 1 H-NMRspectra were similar to feed composition. Keywords: copolyester, poly(ether-ester) copolymer, PBN, EPE