Comparison of thermal and microwave‐activated polymerization of ε‐caprolactone with titanium tetrabutylate as catalyst

Abstract

Abstract Thermal and microwave‐activated ring‐opening polymerization at 180°C in the presence of titanium tetrabutylate at different ε‐caprolactone/titanium tetrabutylate molar ratios were compared. A special equipment was developed to control polymerization in the microwave field and to simultaneously monitor viscosity build‐up as well as changes in microwave powers corresponding to input, reflection and transmission. Conversion, measured by means of viscosity build‐up, and number‐average molecular weight of poly(ε‐caprolactone) were similar for both processes and did not indicate advantages relating to the use of microwave irradiation.