Structure and Properties of Poly(ε-caprolactone) Networks with Modulated Water Uptake

✍ Scribed by Jorge L. Escobar Ivirico; Manuel Salmerón Sánchez; Roser Sabater i Serra; José María Meseguer Dueñas; José Luis Gómez Ribelles; Manuel Monleón Pradas

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 262 KB
• Volume: 207
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1022-1352
• DOI: 10.1002/macp.200600399

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Summary: A PCL macromonomer was obtained by the reaction of PCL diol with methacrylic anhydride. The effective incorporation of the polymerizable end groups was assessed by FT‐IR and ^1^H NMR spectroscopy. PCL networks were then prepared by photopolymerization of the PCL macromonomer. Furthermore, the macromonomer was copolymerized with HEA, with the aim of tailoring the hydrophilicity of the system. A set of hydrophilic semicrystalline copolymer networks were obtained. The phase microstructure of the new system and the network architecture was investigated by DSC, IR, DMS, TG, dielectric spectroscopy and water sorption studies. The presence of the hydrophilic units in the system prevented PCL crystallization on cooling; yet there was no effect on the glass transition process. The copolymer networks showed microphase separation and the α relaxation of the HEA units moved to lower temperatures as the amount of PCL in the system increased.

Ideal structure, compatible with the experimental results, for the hydrophilized poly(ε‐caprolactone) networks with modulated water uptake.

magnified imageIdeal structure, compatible with the experimental results, for the hydrophilized poly(ε‐caprolactone) networks with modulated water uptake.