Synthesis and characterization of polycarbonate-co-poly(valeric methyl ester) random copolymers

A series of random polycarbonates functionalized with ester group inside the chains were synthesized using 4,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-valeric methyl ester as the comonomer. To vary the content of ester placed in the side chain of the polymer, valeric methyl ester in different molar ratios was used as the chain interior subunit. The polymerization was carried out by the interfacial polymerization process. 1H NMR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize the synthesized compounds. The bisphenol-valeric ester copolymers had different thermal properties compared to that of the bisphenol-A polycarbonate, exhibiting lower wettability.