The kinetics of polyesterification. II. Succinic acid and ethylene glycol

Abstract

Abstract The polyesterification of succinic acid with ethylene glycol in both equimolar and nonequimolar ratios was investigated at the reaction temperature of 195°C. The experimental results agreed quite well with the kinetic equations proposed in our previous paper for the adipic acid–ethylene glycol system, except in the case of acid‐catalyzed equimolar reaction, where a shift of kinetic behavior from reaction control to diffusion control would appear. The apparent rate constants for uncatalyzed and acid‐catalyzed reactions were evaluated by using the method of least squares for various values of initial molar ratio between [OH] and [COOH]. The dissociation effect of hydrogen ion from dibasic acid in glycol, as proposed in the adipic acid–ethylene glycol system, could also be applied in the succinic acid–ethylene glycol system to explain the kinetic behavior observed. The kinetic equations previously proposed for polyesterification were again confirmed.