The structure of hyperbranched polyesters (HBPE) from a number of biobased building blocks was characterized using NMR and SEC. The quantitative <sup>13</sup>C NMR spectrum of a pentaerythritol-adipic acid HBPE is given below, as an example. The distribution of terminal, linear and dendritic structures was determined using primarily <sup>13</sup>C NMR and the absolute molecular weight was determined by SEC-MALLS. These structural attributes were modeled using simple Bernoulian statistics for multifunctional alcohols of equal reactivity such as pentaerythritol, and by a recursive statistical model (Macosko-Miller) for systems of unequal reactivity such as glycerol. The models used monomer stoichiometry and extent of reaction, both of which could be quantified by NMR spectroscopy, to predict the distribution of ester species and the molecular weight of the HBPE. This presentation will describe the use of characterization and modelling tools to design the structure and molecular weight of hyperbranched polymers.

Design of biobased hyperbranched polyesters: Structure and molecular weight

249th National Meeting (2015)

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