Synthesis and Intrinsic Viscosity-molecular Weight Relationship of Poly(ethylene adipate)

In this work, two series of poly (ethylene adipate) (PEA) samples with broad and narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD) were prepared by the polymerization between adipic acid and ethylene glycol. An accurate and swift method, one-point method, was used to determine the intrinsic viscosity of PEA samples. On the basis of Mark-Houwink-Sakurada (MHS) equation, the relationship between the intrinsic viscosity and molecular weight was built for PEA (Mw≤11000) in tetrahydrofuran at 298K. The average molecular weights (Mn, Mv, Mw and Mz) were determind by using Gel-Permeation chromatography (GPC). The constants, a and K of MHS equation for the PEA samples dissolved in tetrahydrofuran at 298K were determined by a numerical method, and the influence of polydispersity correction factor (qMHS) on the relationships were studied for PEA with narrow MWD (1.107-1.219) and broad MWD (1.754-1.872).