| Abstract: | High melting polyether esters can be prepared by ester interchange from readily available starting materials such as dimethyl terephthalate, polyalkylene ether glycols and linear short chain diols. The resulting block copolymers exhibit a continuous two-phase domain structure consisting of amorphous polyether ester soft segments and crystalline short chain polyester hard segments. By proper selection of the relative amounts of polyether and polyester segments, polymers ranging from fairly soft elastomers to impact resistant elastoplastics may be obtained. The preparation, morphology and physical characterization of polyether esters as well as the effect of the structures of the soft and hard segments on polymer properties are described. Polytetramethylene terephthalate based on polyether esters are particularly suited as thermoprocessable high performance elastomers offering an unusual combination of physical and chemical properties characterized by high abrasion, tear and solvent resistance as well as excellent low and high temperature properties. Because of their good melt stability, low melt viscosity and high crystallization rates, these polymers can be processed within a wide temperature range by all methods commonly used in the plastics industry. |
