Preparation and characterization of comb-shaped polyesters from 2,2-dioctadecyl-1,3-propanediol and phthalic acids

New types of comb-shaped polyesters have been prepared by transesterification of 2,2-dioctadecyl-1,3-propanediol and the three isomeric diphenyl phthalates. Intrinsic viscosity and SEC analyses allowed determination of DPs (60-89) and molar masses; results compare well with absolute average weight molar masses (56,000-118,000) determined by low-angle laser light scattering. High-resolution 13C NMR reveals the characteristic aromatic and glycol polyester patterns; it resolves many side-chain methylene carbons, but shows no evidence of end-groups. All the polyesters are crystalline as shown by X-ray diffractometry and DSC, the crystallinity being exclusively due to the octadecyl side-group crystallization in the hexagonal form. The results indicate that the crystallinity decreases substantially when going from the ortho- to the terephthalate polyester.