Crystallization behavior and crystal structure of poly(ethylene-co-trimethylene terephthalate)s

A series of random copolymers were synthesized by the bulk polycondensation of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol (EG) and propane-1,3-diol (PDO) in various compositions. Their composition and thermal properties were investigated. The copolymers with 57.7 mol % or more PDO or 14.4 mol % or less PDO were crystallizable, but those with 36-46.2 mol % PDO were amorphous. The nonisothermal crystallization behavior was investigated with varying cooling rates by DSC. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) homopolymers have relatively lower activation energy than their copolymers. PET-rich copolymers (EG > 85.9%) exhibited PET crystal structure, and exhibited no PTT crystal structure; and PTT-rich copolymers (PDO > 41.7%) exhibited PTT crystal structure, and exhibited no PET crystal structure. (C) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.