SYNTHESIS OF POLY (1, 4-BUTYLENETEREPHTHALATE) PREPOLYMER BY DIRECT ESTERIFICATION

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Abstract
The synthesis of poly (1, 4-butylene terephthalate) (PBT) prepolymer by direct esterification of terephthalic acid (TA) with butanediol-1, 4 (BD) was investigated. Preliminary experiments showed that the preparation of prepolymer without a catalyst is impractical, because considerable amounts of tetrahydrofurane (THF) and water were produced from BD by side reactions. In order to find out the catalysts which promote esterification reaction of TA with BD without side reactions, the catalytic effect of various metal compounds was examined. It was found that (i) some kinds of titanium and tin compounds were very effective as catalysts for direct esterification of TA with BD and (ii) when a monoalkyl tin compound was used as a cocatalyst, the catalytic effect of titanic acid ester was improved.The effect of pressure, reaction temperature, and molar ratio of TA to BD on the formation of THE were also investigated in the presence of catalyst. Furthermore, an attempt to prepare the copolymer of PBT was carried out using isophthalic acid as an acid co-component. Useful informations on the optimal reaction conditions for preparation of copolymer of PBT was obtained.

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