Interaction of polyesters with epoxy polymers: Insertion of oxirane rings into ester bonds

• Published in: Journal of Polymer Science: Polymer Chemistry Edition
• Main Authors: Komarova, L. I., Salazkin, S. N., Bulgakova, I. A., Malaniya, M. I., Vinogradova, S. V., Korshak, V. V.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1978
• Subjects: Carbonic acid
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pol.1978.170160717; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fpol.1978.170160717; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/pol.1978.170160717

Abstract Epoxy oligomers readily interact (hardening) with polyesters of different structures (heterochain, carbochain, aliphatic, aromatic), as indicated by the change of properties and infrared spectra of an epoxy polymer–polyester composition on heating. The curing is caused by the reaction of the oxirane ring with ester groups and proceeds by the mechanism of “insertion” of the fragment of the oxirane cycle into the ester bond without scission of the molecular chain of polyesters. This mechanism of interaction is confirmed by study of a model reaction of phenyl benzoate with phenylglycide ether to lead to the formation of 1,3‐diphenyl ether of 2‐benzoyl glycerine. The latter was also produced by another way. The reaction of polyarylate with phenylglycide ether confirmed also that interaction of the ester group with the oxirane ring proceeds by the mechanism of “insertion.” This interaction proceeds with a high conversion and without rupture of the macromolecules (molecular weight does not decrease). The reaction of the oxirane ring with the ester group is accelerated in the presence of sodium salts of carboxylic acids, carbonic acid, and sodium phenolates.