Thermal analysis of environmentally compatible polymers containing plant components in the main chain

Environmentally compatible polymers such as poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and polyurethane (PU) derivatives from PCL's were synthesized from saccharides, polysaccharides and lignins such as glucose, fructose, sucrose, cellulose, cellulose acetate, alcoholysis lignin, kraft lignin and sodium lignosulfonate. Flexible and rigid PU sheets and foams were also prepared by the reaction of OH groups of saccharides and lignins with isocyanates such as toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI). Glass transition temperatures (T-g's), cold-crystallization temperatures (T-cc's) and melting temperatures (T-m's) of saccharide- and lignin-based PCL's and PU's were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and phase diagrams were obtained. Methods of controlling mechanical properties such as stress and elasticity of PU's through changing thermal properties such as glass transition temperature were established. Thermogravimetry (TG) and TG-Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) were also carried out in order to analyze the degradation temperature and evolved gases from the above obtained polymers.