Synthetic and thermodynamic investigations in the polymerization of ethylene carbonate

Abstract

Abstract The polymerization of ethylene carbonate using different metal alkoxides results in poly(oxy‐ethylene‐ alt ‐ethylene carbonate). Polymers containing low amounts of CO 2 or pure poly(oxy‐ethylene) are formed with anionic and cationic initiators. Poly(ethylene carbonate) is not accessible from ethylene carbonate by variation of temperatures and concentration. The reason is not the low ceiling temperature, but the positive enthalpy of polymerization. A Δ H p ‐value of 125,6 kJ/mol was obtained from calorimetric investigations.