The copolymerization reactivity of diols with 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid for furan-based copolyester materials

Furan-based copolyesters were synthesized via polytransesterification of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) with ethylene glycol (EG) and 1,4-butylene glycol (BG). The composition and thermal properties of the obtained copolyesters were characterized in detail by H-1 NMR and elemental analysis, differential scanning calorimeters (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The H-1 NMR results showed that the ethylene segment content was consistently lower than that of butylene in the obtained copolyesters in comparison with the comonomer feeds. The reactivities of EG and BG with FDCA were intensively investigated. On the basis of kinetic studies, EG was found to be less reactive than BG. The thermal properties of the obtained copolyesters could be adjusted by variation of the EG/BG molar ratios in the copolyesters.