Solid-state polymerization of polycarbonates using supercritical CO2

Abstract

The solid state polymerization of low molecular weight polycarbonate using supercritical CO2 is discussed in an effort to create a material without using toxic organic solvents. Prepolymer was synthesized by the step-growth polymerization of bisphenol A and diphenyl carbonate using an aqueous solution of LiOH as the initiator. The observed change in rate is a composite of a number of effects including the increase in reaction temperature and polymer crystallinity along with a decrease in endgroup concentration.