Polyglycolide is a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based gas barrier materials and features promising gas barrier properties. However, polyglycolide is challenging to process because of its high crystallinity and narrow thermal processing windows. In this presentation, we show that the introduction of methyl groups to the polyglycolide backbone can lower the melting temperature, thereby widening the processing windows while maintaining gas barrier properties. In particular, poly(glycolide-stat-lactide) and poly(glycolide-stat-methylglycolide), two copolymers with similar methyl contents but different spatial distributions of methyl groups along the backbone were synthesized. The polymers were thoroughly compared with respect to molecular structure, semi-crystalline morphology, thermal properties, and gas permeability. Interestingly, the melting temperature and gas permeability of poly(glycolide-stat-methylglycolide) were lower than that of corresponding poly(glycolide-stat-lactide). These data suggested that the distribution of methyl groups on the backbone was crucial for the thermal and gas barrier properties in this sustainable material.

Effect of methyl group distribution in sustainable polyglycolide copolymers on material properties

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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