In a paper, NMP has been used as a solvent for PET, but in Eastman website it has been mentioned that PET is insoluble in NMP!
Can PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol modified) be dissolved in NMP?
http://ws.eastman.com/ProductCatalogApps/PageControllers/ProdDatasheet_PC.aspx?product=71103627
PET - a semi crystalline polymer- is only soluble in NMP near the melting point of the crystalline part of the PET, that means at >200°C. Semi crystalline polymers are generally insoluble in usual solvents at temperatures significantly below the melting point. Only solvents with very strong interactions with the polymer chain - in most cases formation of hydrogen bonds - can solve semi-crystalline polymers at room temperature. For PET such solvents are hexafluoroisopropanol, m-cresol and a 1:1 mixture of phenol and 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane.
Thank you so much for your answer Dr. Koehler. I am working with PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol modified) which is completely amorphous. I tried DMF, but it seems that PETG is partially soluble in DMF( at 80 C). I do not want to heat the solution to high temperatures. Does NMP dissolve PETG better than DMF at about 80 C?
I think that there is nearly no difference between DMF and NMP. DMSO or sulfolane could be slightly better. It would be advantageously if you mix a protic solvent like hexafluoroisopropanol, trifluoroethanol, phenol or cresol with the other solvent to get a solution at room temperature.
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