Poly(ether–ester)s modified with different amounts of fumaric moieties

A series of novel poly(ether–ester)s modified with fumaric moieties is synthesized by transesterification in the melt of dimethyl terephthalate (DMT), dimethyl fumarate (DMF), 1,4-butanediol (BD) and poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO, M̄n=1000 g/mol). The effect of the introduction of double bonds into both the hard and soft segments and their content on the structure and the thermal and rheological properties of the synthesized polymers are investigated. The introduction of double bonds into the polymer main chains increases the molecular weight of the copolyesters, but reduces the crystallinity of the hard segments and related properties such as modulus and hardness. The presence of double bonds improves the high temperature properties and thermal stability, especially the thermo-oxidative one, lowers the melting and crystallization temperature and increases the glass transition temperature. The incorporation of fumaric moieties into the macrochains improves the adhesive strength of the polymer to a metal surface.