Polyethylene-like macrolactone-based polyesters: Rheological, thermal and barrier properties

Abstract Linear aliphatic poly(ester)s are receiving increasing interest due to their properties comparable to that of common polyethylene. In this work, unsaturated macrolactone ω-6-hexadecenlactone (6HDL) is used for the preparation of long-methylene chain aliphatic polyesters by metal-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization (ROP). Block and random copolymer of e-caprolactone (CL) are then synthetized. The microstructures of these polyesters are characterized by 1 H and 13 C NMR. Their rheological, thermal and barrier properties are evaluated and discussed. For comparison purposes, the properties of the relative homopolymers are also determined. Results show that the properties of these polymers differ depending on the main chain structure. In particular, the viscoelastic behavior of the copolymer sample shows an order-disorder transition in the temperature range of 75–85 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis and barrier properties show that the copolymers have a resistance to the diffusion of gases and vapors intermediate between that of the parent homopolymers.