Synthesis and thermal properties of cellulose-based polycaprolactones

Cellulose-based polycaprolactone (CAPCL) sheets were prepared from cellulose acetate (CA) and epsilon-caprolactone (CL). Thermal properties of the obtained CAPCL's were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG) and TG-Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (TG-FTIR). The glass transition temperatures (T-g 's) of CAPCL decreased with increasing CL / OH ratio, until CL/OH ratio reached 15 and then increased above that ratio. Melting of CAPCL was observed when CL/OH ratio was over 10. The thermal degradation temperatures (T-d 's) of CAPCL increased from ca. 350 degrees C to 390 degrees C with increasing CL/OH ratio. The results obtained by TG-FTIR analysis of CAPCL showed that gases with OH, CH, C=O, C-O-C groups evolved by thermal degradation.