1. Université de Lyon, F‐69003, Lyon, France;2. Université de Saint‐Etienne, F42023, Saint Etienne, France;3. CNRS, UMR5223, Ingénierie des Matériaux Polymères, France;4. IMP/LRMP 23, rue du docteur Paul Michelon F‐42023 Saint Etienne cedex 2 (France);5. School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 200237 Shanghai, China
Abstract:
Chemical modification of EVOH in the molten state at 185 °C by a grafting from process of poly(ε‐caprolactone) in batch was studied. 1H NMR was used to characterize the structure evolutions of PCL grafts. In addition to grafting reactions, dynamic covalent transesterification reactions between EVOH residual alcohols and the polyester grafts led to a redistribution of the PCL grafts length. up to 27 and SR up to 80% were obtained. Experiments made in a corotating mini twin‐screw extruder also confirmed these results. The effect of the alcohol to caprolactone ratio and catalyst concentration (SnOct2) on kinetic evolution showed that few minutes were necessary to complete the polymerization. A kinetic model was proposed and adequate conditions for the synthesis by reactive extrusion were defined.