Abstract:
THE EXTENSIBILITY, IMPACT PROPERTIES, HARDNESS, SOFTENING TEMPERATURE, WATER ABSORPTION AND SOLVENT RESISTANCE OF SHAPED ARTICLES OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNSTRETCHED POLYLACTONES (POLYPIVALOLACTONE) ARE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED BY THERMAL AFTER-TREATMENT, I.E., BY ANNEALING WITHOUT DEFORMATION AT A TEMPERATURE BETWEEN ABOUT 140* AND 230*C.
Abstract:
A polymer of a Beta -lactone is degassed by heating the polymer in the molten state at a temperature of at least 275* C. The process is applicable to polymers which have been prepared at temperatures below the polymer''s melting point. An example of such a preparation is a slurry-polymerization of pivalolactone. The resulting degassed polymer can be molded, extruded or injected into articles, nibs or threads.