Degradable polyethylene plastics from the nonalternating terpolymerization of ethylene, CO, and polar monomers

In a study published in the journal National Science Review and led by Dr. Zhongbao Jian (State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, CAS), E/CO/PM terpolymerizations were carried out with seven palladium catalysts, which were strictly non-alternating (>99%) with Pd₄.

Polar monomers included acrylates, acrylic acid, vinyl ethers, vinyl acetate and acrylonitrile. High molecular weight linear polyethylene with the low content of isolated carbonyl group (selectivity > 99%) and polar functional group was developed.

The molecular structure of the resulting polymer was analyzed in detail, and the microstructure of the E/CO/PM copolymer was clearly characterized by IR, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H/¹³C/2-D NMR) and ¹³CO labeling technology.

The properties of the resulting polymers were comprehensively tested by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WXRD), tensile testing, water contact angle (WCA) experiments, and photodegradation experimental techniques.