Renewable Aliphatic Polyester Block Polymer Thermoplastic Elastomers

Abstract

The performance of thermoplastic elastomers is predicated on their ability to form mechanically tough physically crosslinked elastomeric networks at low temperatures and be able to flow at elevated temperatures. This dissertation focuses on renewable aliphatic polyester block polymers with amorphous polylactide (PLA) and their performance as TPEs. The goal of this work was to enhance the mechanical toughness of PLA containing TPEs; fundamental properties ranging from chemical composition and phase behavior, molecular architecture and melt processability, to melt polymerization strategies were investigated. ABA triblock polymers with PLA end-blocks and rubbery mid-blocks from substituted lactones comprised of poly(6-methyl-ε-caprolactone)(PMCL), poly(δ-decalactone), and poly(ε-decalactone)(PDL) were produced by sequential ring-opening polymerizations in the bulk. The bulk microstructure of symmetric PLA-PMCL-PLA and PLA-PDL-PLA triblock polymers formed long-range ordered morphologies and the interaction parameter of the repeat units was determined. High molar mass triblocks exhibited elastomeric behavior with good tensile strengths and high elongations. Small triblocks were coupled to produced (PLA-PDL-PLA)n multiblock polymers with high molar mass and accessible order-disorder transitions allowing for melt processing via injection molding. The mechanical toughness of the multiblocks was comparable to the high molar mass triblocks. The controlled polymerization of renewable δ-decalactone was accomplished with an organocatalyst at low temperatures in the bulk to maximize the equilibrium conversion of the monomer.