Open Access

ARTICLE

Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(epichlorohydrin-g-ε-caprolactone) Graft Copolymers by “Click” Chemistry

TEMEL ÖZTÜRK^a,b, KEVIN A. CAVICCHI^a

a The University of Akron, Department of Polymer Engineering, 250 S Forge St, Akron, OH 44325 USA;
b Giresun University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry, 28100 Giresun, Turkey

* Corresponding Author: e-mail:

Journal of Polymer Materials 2018, 35(2), 209-220.

Abstract

The synthesis of poly(epichlorohydrin-g-ε-caprolactone) [poly(ECH-g-CL)] graft copolymers were carried out by use of a “click” chemistry reaction to graft poly(ε-caprolactone) propargyl (PCLpropargyl) to poly(epichlorohydrin) azido (PECH-N₃ ). For this purpose, PECH-N₃ was synthesized by the reaction of poly(epichlorohydrin) and sodium azide. Then PCL-propargyl was obtained by the reaction of poly(ε-caprolactone) [PCL] and propargyl chloride. By reacting PECH-N₃ and PCL-propargyl, graft copolymers were obtained. The primary parameters, such as time and concentration, that influenced the reactions were assessed. The characterization of products was accomplished by using multiple instruments and methods including ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, FTIR, GPC, DSC, TGA, and fractional precipitation [non–solvent (petroleum ether, mL) / solvent (THF, mL)] techniques.

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Keywords

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