epsilon-CAPROLACTONE → L-lactide epsilon-caprolactone

Participants

Reaction Steps

The procedure of Example II is repeated except that 461 grams of L-(-)-lactide, 5.4 ml of benzene containing 1.1 gram of pure stannous caprylate and 81.3 grams of epsilon caprolactone are placed in the ampoule, evacuated, sealed and heated for 15.5 hours at 136° to 140° C. The copolymer has an outstanding combination of physical properties. The copolymer is a tough, strong, clear material. It has good impact resistance and a good combination of tensile strength and elongation properties. The copolymer has GPC molecular weights of Mw = 192,200 and Mn = 44,900. The residual lactide comprises 1.15 percent. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) of the copolymer reveals a moderate amount of crystallinity with a melting point endotherm at 133° C. Molded sheets of the copolymer are clear, colorless, supple and tough. Physical properties are listed in more detail in Table 1.

Provenance & Evidence