Synthesis of Degradable Polyethylene and Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) by Radical Co- and Terpolymerization of Ethylene, ε-Thionocaprolactone, and Vinyl Acetate

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.4c00085
• Publication Date: 2024-05-03T11:46:08Z
• Authors: Nam Duc Vu; Oleksandr Ivanchenko; Florian Baffie; Yohann Guillaneuf; Didier Gigmes; Simon Harrisson; Vincent Monteil; Mathias Destarac; Franck D’Agosto
• Keywords: Vinyl acetate; Ethylene-vinyl acetate; Thioester; Linear low-density polyethylene

We report the synthesis of PE and poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) bearing a low content in-chain thioester functions introduced via co- or terpolymerization approach involving ethylene (E), vinyl acetate (VAc), ε-thionocaprolactone (TCL). To achieve homogeneous incorporation along chains resulting from ring opening TCL, semibatch process with an adjusted feed TCL was employed. Characterizations polymers were conducted by combination size exclusion chromatography (SEC) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses. The chemically induced degradability obtained assessed SEC.