Influence of Molecular Structure and Stereochemistry of the 1,4‐Cyclohexylene Ring on Thermal and Mechanical Behavior of Poly(butylene 1,4‐cyclohexanedicarboxylate)

Abstract

Abstract Poly(butylene 1,4‐cyclohexanedicarboxylate), an aliphatic polyester with favorable properties, such as resistance to weather and potential biodegradability, has been synthesized with different cis/trans ratio of the 1,4‐cyclohexylene ring. The samples show high degradation temperatures, independent of the stereochemistry of the aliphatic ring. Instead, glass transition temperature, crystallization and melting behavior are strongly influenced by the cis/trans ratio. The trans isomer, more rigid and symmetric than the cis , favors higher transition temperatures and crystallizability. The DMTA spectra present two secondary relaxations, attributed to the (CH 2 ) unit and aliphatic ring motions, which can be beneficial for improving impact resistance properties. The physical properties are compared with those of PBT and PCCD. magnified image