Poly(3-hydroxyacid) polymers from long-chain epoxides and their uses related to hot melt adhesives

Abstract

A macromolecule comprises a ring-opened polymerized product of β-lactone monomers of formula I: and having a structure of formula IA: wherein R1 is an alkyl group having at least 8 carbon atoms. The macromolecule may be hydroxy-terminated, and may be copolymerized with other β-lactone monomers having different substituting groups and/or with higher lactone monomers. The macromolecule may be used as a reactant to form an alkoxysilane-terminated polymer, a polyurethane, or a (co)polyester, or may be used as an elastomeric midblock in a triblock copolymer having hard end blocks, such as polylactic acid. Such triblock systems demonstrate two discreet regions having properties similar to styrene block copolymers and are therefore suitable for use as hot melt or pressure-sensitive adhesives. In some embodiments, such triblock polymers may be entirely bio-sourced and compostable.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.