Synthesis and characterization of polymers from cashewnut shell liquid: a renewable resource V. Synthesis of copolyester

A novel copolyester was synthesized by solution polycondensation of terepht haloyl chloride with 4-[(4-hydroxy-2-pentadecenylphenyl)diazenyl] phenol (H PPDP) and 1,4-butane diol. The monomer (HPPDP) has been synthesized from 3- pentadecenyl phenol, a renewable resource and a by-product of the cashew in dustry characterized earlier [1]. The copolyester was characterized through elemental analysis, H-1-NMR, IR, and UV spectroscopy. Dilute solution visc osity of its solution was also determined by viscometry. The intrinsic visc osity [eta] was 0.98 dl/gm. The melting temperatures of the copolyester wer e 63 and 127 degrees C as observed from Differential Scanning Calorimetric (DSC) studies. Thermogravimetric analysis show that degradation commences a t 290 degrees C in nitrogen atmosphere. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction study of the copolyester indicates absence of any crystallinity, whereas DSC stud ies indicate the presence of two melting peaks. Thus, it is presumed that t he copolyester has short range crystallinity. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd . All rights reserved.