Poly (glycerol-sebacate) bioelastomers: 2. Synthesis using Brabender Plasticoder® as a batch reactor

Poly (glycerol-sebacate) polymers are seen as useful materials for biomedical applications. In this article, poly (glycerol-sebacate) oligomers were synthesized by modifying a Brabender Plasticorder((R)) as a batch reactor. The samples collected over a reaction period of 5 h were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The number-average molecular weight (M-n) and weight-average molecular weight (M-w) of the oligoesters were determined using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF). The polydispersity indices of these oligoesters produced were within bounds of current commercial polymers. The gel-point of the reaction was determined from the crossover point of the storage and loss moduli, and the reaction rate constant was calculated using the torque data of the rheometer. The kinetic rate constant and the extent of the reaction in the Brabender were higher than the corresponding values obtained from the conventional laboratory reaction process. The challenges and possibilities in scaling up a batch process to a continuous process (e.g., reactive extrusion) are discussed. (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 132, 42852.