Polymerization of ε-caprolactone by sodium hydride: From the synthesis of the polymer samples to their thermal, mechanical and barrier properties

Anionic polymerization of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) was performed using sodium hydride as a non-toxic initiator, in bulk or in solution with several solvents. The effects of toluene, tetrahydrofurane, pyridine or their mixtures on the properties of the obtained poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) samples was investigated and discussed. The PCL samples were characterized by NMR and GPC. Synthesized samples were processed on a laboratory scale to obtain films. Thermal, mechanical and barrier properties to liquid water were evaluated on the films. The samples having higher molecular weight showed thermal, mechanical and barrier properties equivalent to those of typical commercial PCL, which is obtained in the presence of tin (II) 2-ethylhexanoate.