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Investigation of the mechanical properties and degradation of ester-free poly(trimethylene carbonate) derivatives bearing various bulky aromatic groups

Polymer Journal volume 56, pages 319–333 (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

Ester-free trimethylene carbonate derivatives bearing bulky aromatic groups were designed and synthesized, including those with one or two benzyl groups, diphenylmethyl groups, and triphenylmethyl groups. The polymerization reactions of these monomers were investigated with several initiators. The mechanical properties of the polymers were determined with compressive tests, resulting in approximately 0.3 MPa at most. The degradation behaviors were also evaluated in lipase solutions and aqueous 0.01 M NaOH for several weeks, which revealed that the substituents impeded degradation in most cases. The degradation processes were slow, and they were analyzed with weight loss, SEM, SEC, TGA, and DSC studies.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (JP22H04547), Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) (JP20H02799) and Fostering Joint International Research (B) (JP19KK0277). The research was partly supported by The Mazda Foundation (21KK-134). The authors thank Ms. Nishikawa for performing the MALDI-TOF/MS experiments. The authors also appreciate fruitful discussions with Dr. T. Ando, Dr. N. Chanthaset, and H. Yoshida.

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  1. Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan

    Rikyu Miyake & Hiroharu Ajiro

  2. Data Science Center, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan

    Hiroharu Ajiro

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  1. Rikyu Miyake
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Correspondence to Hiroharu Ajiro.

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Miyake, R., Ajiro, H. Investigation of the mechanical properties and degradation of ester-free poly(trimethylene carbonate) derivatives bearing various bulky aromatic groups. Polym J 56, 319–333 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-023-00848-8

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