Poly(butylene terephthalate) modified with ethoxylated bisphenol S with increased glass transition temperature and improved thermal stability

Novel copolyesters have been prepared by polycondensation and by melt mixing of poly(butylene terephthalate) with an ethoxylated bisphenol S. No side reactions occur during the synthesis of the samples, as proved by NMR analysis. The polyesters were examined by TGA and DSC. The insertion of the bisphenol S (sulfonyldiphenol) group significantly improved the thermal stability of the polymer. The thermal analysis carried out using DSC technique showed that the T-m of the copolymers decreased with increasing co-unit content, differently from T-g, which on the contrary increased, exceeding in some cases 100 degrees C, and crystallization rate decreased. A polymer containing only terephthalate moieties and ethoxylated bisphenol S has been prepared for the first time. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.