Bulk copolymerization of 1,3,5-trioxane and 1,3-dioxolane in presence of phosphotungstic acid catalyst and tetrahydrofuran as retarder: crystallinity and thermal properties

In this study, cationic ring opening in situ copolymerization of 1,3,5-trioxane (TOX) and 1,3-dioxolane (DOX) occurred during bulk polymerization in the presence of phosphotungstic acid as a catalyst. In another part of the study, copolymerization occurred in the presence of retarder tetrahydrofuran (THF), and its effect on the crystallization and thermal stability of the samples was also investigated. The findings from (HNMR)-H-1 spectrometry indicated that the synthesized samples of random acetal copolymer are comprised of an independent oxyethylene unit in an oxymethylene main-chain sequence. The findings from DSC indicated that crystallinity decreases with increasing comonomer content. Furthermore, the sample with retarder revealed greater crystallinity than the samples without retarder. From TGA results, it was revealed that the sample with retarder caused a larger quantity of comonomer to enter the chain and increased the thermal stability compared to the samples without retarder.