Ionomeric interpretation of thickening of polyesters by alkaline earth metal oxides

Abstract

Four resins of poly(propylene glycol adipate) were mixed with different amounts of MgO and their viscosities were measured after a month. The viscosities increased by several thousand but the increase was less for resins containing more water. The existing explanations of the thickening behavior, namely the polymerization and the coordinate complex formation theories, were found to be inadequate in accounting for the observations. Small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the thickened resins revealed formation of aggregates of magnesium ions, much like those observed in other ionomers. It is postulated that domain formation is the cause of observed thickening. A correlation between the viscosity of thickened resins and the amount of metal oxide reacted, the water content, and other properties of resin was obtained.