Investigation of the epoxide–carboxylic acid reaction in model compound and polymerization reactions

Abstract

Abstract The reaction of epoxide and acid has been studied in the model reaction of bisphenol‐A diglycidyl ether and acetic acid with several base catalysts at 60, 95, and 115°C. The results suggest that no greater than 5% side reactions occur. A series of polyhydroxylester polymers were prepared from bisphenol‐A diglycidyl ether and adipic acid. The polymers gel rapidly upon heating at 200°C. Terpolymers of bisphenol‐A diglycidyl ether, bisphenol‐A, and azelaic acid were prepared. These also gel at 200°C when 50 mole‐% of the active hydrogen reactant is azelaic acid.