Inverse gas chromatographic characterization of polycaprolactone

Abstract EN

The Inverse Gas Chromatography method was utilized to obtain the thermodynamic properties and the surface energy of a semicrystalline polymer, polycaprolactone (PCL).

PCL was used as a stationary phase in the chromatographic column and sixteen solutes with a different chemical nature were used, such as alkanes, acetates, and alcohols.

Each family has provided information on the type and strength of the PCL-solute interactions.

The interaction parameters xJ2 at a temperature range of 80-130°C was determined.

Alkanes showed better interactions with the PCL layer and pentane was found to be the best solvent for PCL among all solutes used.

The dispersion contribution of the surface energy of PCL was measured as a function of temperature, which ranged between 2.00 and 10.00 mJ/m2, indicating poor surface energy of PCL.