POLY(ALKYLENE CARBONATE)S BY THE CARBONATE INTERCHANGE REACTION OF ALIPHATIC DIOLS WITH DIMETHYL CARBONATE - SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION

Poly(alkylene carbonate)s have been synthesized by the melt-phase interchange reaction of aliphatic diols with dimethyl carbonate. Aliphatic polycarbonates with inherent viscosities of 0.3 to 0.8 dlg(-1) have been obtained. Polycarbonates derived from alicyclic diols show a T-g below room temperature and a T-m in the range 50-60 degrees C. However, the polycarbonate derived from a cyclic diol, namely 1,4-bis(hydroxymethyl)-cyclohexane,shows a T-g of +35 degrees C and a T-m of +97 degrees C, the highest yet reported for this class of polymers.