SYNTHESIS AND CHARATERIZATION OF POLY(BUTYLENE SUCCINATE)-L-PROLINE COMPOSITE EXTENDED WITH 1,6-DIISOCYNATOHEXANE

ABSTRACT

This study focused on the synthesis and characterization of L-proline polymer composite that will be tested for mild steel corrosion protection. Poly(butylene succinate) extended with 1,6-diisocyanatihexane (PBS) and L-proline were utilized to the synthesis of poly(butylene succinate)-L-proline composite. Solution polymerization was used as the method to get the amorphous water soluble polymer composite; and was characterized by FTIR, XRD and SEM. SEM-EDX of the polymerized composites was performed and the % count of elements was used to differentiate between PBS matrix and semi-polymerized L-proline. Nitrogen content was used as the basis in this analysis. The XRD pattern for PBS indicates that, PBS is semi-crystalline while PBSLP is amorphous. This is based on the intensities of the peaks found in the pattern of two materials. Each application needs the polymer to behave in a particular way, and behavior is determined by composition and structure. The FTIR results confirmed the presence of L-proline within the PBS matrix while the SEM results indicated that semi-polymerized proline is randomly distributed within PBS matrix. The random distribution could also be proposed in TGA results, where thermal strength of PBSLP does not show any improvement in crystalline structure of pure PBS by L-proline. It was concluded from FTIR results that the composite was synthesized but farther characterization will be done.

Keywords: Poly(butylene succinate), L-proline, polymerization, composite