Title: Preparation of poly(ε-caprolactone) and its nanocomposites in ε-caprolactam
Abstract: The solution polymerization of -caprolactone (CLO) initiated with stannous 2-ethylhexanoate has been studied in the temperature range 90 - 150 °C. -Caprolactam (CLA) was used as a solvent. Although relatively high polymerization temperature was used poly(-caprolactone) (PCLO) was formed solely and no CLA structural units were incorporated into its chains. The polymerization rate increased with CLO content in feed and polymerization temperature. A linear dependence of molar mass on yield of PCLO indicates living character of polymerization. When polymerization was carried out in the presence of organically modified MMT, nanocomposites PCLO - layered silicate with an exfoliated structure were obtained.