TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schmidt, Christian
A1  - Behl, Marc
A1  - Lendlein, Andreas
A1  - Beuermann, Sabine
T1  - Synthesis of high molecular weight polyglycolide in supercritical carbon dioxide
T2  - RSC Advances
N2  - Polyglycolide (PGA) is a biodegradable polymer with multiple applications in the medical sector. Here the synthesis of high molecular weight polyglycolide by ring-opening polymerization of diglycolide is reported. For the first time stabilizer free supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)) was used as a reaction medium. scCO(2) allowed for a reduction in reaction temperature compared to conventional processes. Together with the lowering of monomer concentration and consequently reduced heat generation compared to bulk reactions thermal decomposition of the product occurring already during polymerization is strongly reduced. The reaction temperatures and pressures were varied between 120 and 150 degrees C and 145 to 1400 bar. Tin(II) ethyl hexanoate and 1-dodecanol were used as catalyst and initiator, respectively. The highest number average molecular weight of 31 200 g mol(-1) was obtained in 5 hours from polymerization at 120 degrees C and 530 bar. In all cases the products were obtained as a dry white powder. Remarkably, independent of molecular weight the melting temperatures were always at (219 +/- 2)degrees C.
Y1  - 2014
UR  - https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/38235
SN  - 2046-2069
VL  - 4
IS  - 66
SP  - 35099
EP  - 35105
PB  - Royal Society of Chemistry
CY  - Cambridge
ER  -