Novel graft copolymers with aliphatic polyether and polyester main chains

•New agents for selective coupling of amino and hydroxyl groups were utilized.•Graft copolymers with a PTHF backbone and PA12 or PS grafts were synthesized.•The polymer synthesis was carried out in two steps in the melt.•Graft copolymers with PA12 grafts exhibited a typical spherulitic superstructure.•The graft copolymers showed pronounced elastic behavior.

A series of new graft copolymers was synthesized by a “grafting to” approach, in the course of which the polymer backbone was build up first by a chain extension reaction of polyether or polycaprolactone diols with bis-N-acyl lactams. During the first reaction step, benzoxazinone groups were introduced into the backbone which served as grafting sites for monoamino-terminated polyamide 12 or polystyrene. Chain extension and grafting could be performed successively and with high selectivity in the melt at 180-220 °C.The morphology and the thermo-mechanical behavior of the graft copolymers were strongly influenced by the type of the grafted side chains. Polymers with polyamide grafts exhibited a two phase morphology with a spherulitic superstructure in the micrometer scale. The tensile behavior of these polymers was characterized by a certain elastic component.In contrast, the phase morphology of a polystyrene grafted polymer was much finer. A strong influence on the glass transitions revealed improved compatibility between the components. Pronounced strain hardening was observed during the tensile test of polystyrene grafted samples.

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