Polymerization of ε-caprolactone with degraded PET for its functionalization

Abstract

Poly(caprolactone) (PCL) was synthesized from the polymerization of ε-caprolactone (CL) with degraded poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) for its functionalization using heptamolybdate of ammonium and tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate, as catalyst and initiator, respectively. Polymerization of CL with bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) was carried out to make a comparison. From the analysis by FTIR, the functional groups of polycaprolactone and degraded PET were identified by FTIR. The chemical shift at 165.59 ppm obtained by NMR corresponded to the chemical bond between the carbonyl of the PCL bound to the -CH2CO2-C10H8O4 of the degraded PET. The number average molar mass of polymer obtained was determined and its chemical structure was proposed. Crystallinity and the temperatures of melting and degradation depended of the mass of degraded PET used in the synthesis. Based on the proposed chemical structure, the synthesized polymer could be used in the preparation of other polymers.