Copolymers of D,L-lactide and epsilon caprolactone
AssigneeGulf Oil Corporation
InventorRichard G. Sinclair
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Copolymers which can be fabricated into films, fibers and structural shapes are prepared by copolymerizing an optically inactive lactide, i.e., D,L-lactide, and epsilon caprolactone in the presence of a tin ester of a carboxylic acid. A copolymer prepared from 85 parts by weight of D,L-lactide and 15 parts by weight of epsilon caprolactone is a thermoplastic elastomer. A copolymer prepared from 90 parts by weight of D,L-lactide and 10 parts by weight of epsilon caprolactone is a rigid, clear, thermoplastic solid.
Claims12
A thermally stable copolymer of an optically inactive lactide and epsilon caprolactone, said copolymer being obtained by heating a mixture of L,L-lactide having a melting point above 100.degree. C. and epsilon caprolactone at a temperature above the melting point of D,L-lactide and below 200.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst, said mixture comprising about 60 to about 95 per cent by weight of D,L-lactide.
A thermoplastic elastomer of an optically inactive lactide and epsilon caprolactone, said elastomer being obtained by heating 85 parts by weight of D,L-lactide having a melting point above 100.degree. C. and 15 parts by weight of epsilon caprolactone at a temperature above the melting point of D,L-lactide and below 200.degree. C. in the presence of a tin ester of a carboxylic acid containing up to 18 carbon atoms.
A rigid, clear, thermoplastic solid of an optically inactive lactide and epsilon caprolactone, said solid being obtained by heating 90 parts by weight of D,L-lactide having a melting point above 100.degree. C. and 10 parts by weight of epsilon caprolactone at a temperature above the melting pont of D,L-lactide and below 200.degree. C. in the presence of a tin ester of a carboxylic acid containing up to 18 carbon atoms.
A terpolymer of an optically inactive lactide, glycolide and epsilon caprolactone, said terpolymer being obtained by heating a mixture of D,L-lactide having a melting point above 100.degree. C., glycolide and epsilon caprolactone at a temperature above the melting point of D,L-lactide and below 200.degree. C. in the presence of about 0.001 to about 2 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the D,L-lactide, glycolide and epsilon caprolatone, of catalyst, said mixture comprising about 60 to about 95 percent by weight of D,L-lactide and about 5 to about 40 percent by weight of glycolide and epsilon caprolactone, the weight ratio of glycolide:epsilon caprolactone being within the range of 1:9 to 9:1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.