Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) is an aromatic polymer with outstanding mechanical and optical properties. It becomes a promising candidate in both the textile and engineering materials. However, the preparation of high-molecular weight PTT suitable for melt spinning is not easy due to the absence of efficient catalysts for PTT synthesis. Titanium-containing catalysts have the highest activity in PTT synthesis [1]. Yet, stability for catalyst's diffusion in 1,3-propanodiol should be improved and inhibition by phosphorus stabilizers should be avoided[2]. A novel titanium catalyst developed by Sinopec SRIPT was applied in PTT synthesis. It improved the combination with phosphorus compound and obtained good catalyzing activity without harm thermostability of PTT. PTT samples were synthesized using catalyst provided by SRIPT to obtained higher IVs. The molecular weight of PTT (number average molecular weight, Mn) was required to reach 20000g/mol for fiber applications[3].Catalyst STiC-T1 provided by SRIPT exhibit excellent catalyst activity in PTT synthesis. After optimizing polycondensation parameters, PTT sample with molecular weight more than 22000g/mol was successfully synthesized using STiC-T1 catalyst. It would be suitable for fiber application. Dynamic thermogravimetric result shows PTT sample prepared using STiC-T1 has increased degradation initial temperature.The new catalyst STiC-T1 improved reaction activity in a more comprehensive mechanism, different from simply increasing the catalyst amount. 1. Wilhelm, F; Seidel, E; Reitz H; Thiele U; Mackensen K; Kelsey D. R; Blackbourn R. L; Tomaskovic R. S. EU Patent 1,046,662, October 25, 2000. 2. Fortunato, B; Munari, A; Manaresi, P; Monari, P. Polymer. 1994, 35, 4006-4010. 3. Young, J. K; Jaehoon, K; Seong-Geun, O. I&EC Research. 2012, 51, 2904−2912.

Synthesis and characterization of PTT using novel catalyst

249th National Meeting (2015)

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