Synthesis and properties of polylactide terpolymers P(LLA‐TMC‐GA) catalyzed by zirconium (IV) acetylacetonate

Abstract

A series of L‐lactide (LLA), 1,3‐trimethylene carbonate (TMC) and glycolide (GA) terpolymers (LTG) of different monomer molar ratios were synthesized by using ring‐opening copolymerization. An effective and low‐toxic zirconium (IV) acetylacetonate Zr(Acac)4 was used as catalyst. The viscosity‐average molecular weights (Mη) of obtained polymers were all above 2.2×104 g/mol. The chemical structure and viscosity of terpolymers were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1HNMR), 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13CNMR) and an Ubbelohde viscometer. The thermal and mechanical properties were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and stress‐strain measurements. Results suggested that all terpolymers were amorphous and showed good thermal stability. Also it was found that elongation increased with the decreasing of LLA unit. More importantly, terpolymers displayed shape memory property when deformation temperatures were 14‐15 °C above Tg.

Synthesis and properties of shape memory polymers of LLA, TMC, and ε‐CL terpolymers

“…LTCL terpolymers were synthesized using ring opening polymerization (ROP) as previously reported method using Zr(Acac) 4 as catalyst . Monomers/catalyst ratio is 2000:1.…”

“…Shape memory properties of terpolymers were investigated by tensile test . The test procedure of shape memory behaviors was as follows.…”

“…Using poly(glycolide‐co‐caprolactone) (PGC) as soft segment, lactide, glycolide, and caprolactone multiblock copolymers exhibit good shape memory property . Recently, we and other groups reported the synthesis and property of L‐lactide, glycolide, and TMC (LTG) terpolymers . The terpolymers exhibit shape memory performance; the shape recovery temperature is above T g 14°C to 15°C .…”

“…Recently, we and other groups reported the synthesis and property of L‐lactide, glycolide, and TMC (LTG) terpolymers . The terpolymers exhibit shape memory performance; the shape recovery temperature is above T g 14°C to 15°C . These are promising materials for biomedical applications.…”

“…Following our earlier successful application of Zr(Acac) 4 to the synthesis of LTG terpolymers, this compound in the present work was used as the catalyst for L‐lactide, TMC, and ε‐CL terpolymerization. Previous studies have proved that LTG terpolymers show shape memory performance . However, the recovery temperature is still high for application in human body.…”