POLYMER MIXTURES COMPRISING POLYMERS HAVING DIFFERENT NON-REPEATING UNITS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING SAME

• US 20100216948A1
• Filed: 01/22/2010
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Evonik Corporation (Rag-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Evonik Corporation (Rag-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Tipton, Arthur J.
• Application Number:
  US12/692,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20100216948A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 525/415
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 2261/126 block
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 63/08 Lactones or lactides
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 63/664 derived from hydroxy carboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 63/78 Preparation processes
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 64/183 containing polyether sequences
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2205/02 containing two or more polymers of the same C08L -group
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/02 Organic macromolecular compounds, natural resins, waxes or and bituminous materials
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/18 Polyesters or polycarbonates according to C08L67/00 - C08L69/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/04 Polyesters derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids, e.g. lactones C08L67/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 69/00 Compositions of polycarbonates; Compositions of derivatives of polycarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 71/00 Compositions of polyethers obtained by reactions forming an ether link in the main chain of polyacetals C08L59/00; of epoxy resins C08L63/00; of polythioether-ethers C08L81/02; of polyether-sulfones C08L81/06; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers

Abstract

Described herein are polymer mixtures comprising polymers have at least one different non-repeating unit. Methods for making and using the polymer mixtures are also disclosed. Also disclosed are uses of the polymer mixtures, including methods for making microparticles from the polymer mixtures.

Claims

1. A polymer mixture comprising a first polymer having a polymer backbone and one or more non-repeating units, and a second polymer having a polymer backbone and one or more non-repeating units;

wherein the first and second polymer comprise a poly(cyclic ether), a poly(cyclic ester), a poly(cyclic carbonate), or a mixture thereof;

wherein at least one non-repeating unit of the first polymer is different than at least one non-repeating unit of the second polymer; and

wherein the polymer backbone of the first polymer is substantially the same as the polymer backbone of the second polymer.

2. The polymer mixture of claim 1, wherein if the first polymer is a poly(caprolactone) homopolymer having three or more arms, then the second polymer is not a poly(caprolactone) homopolymer having less than three arms.

3. The polymer mixture of claim 1, wherein if the first polymer is a poly(lactone) homopolymer having three or more arms, then the second polymer is not a poly(lactone) homopolymer having less than three arms.

4. The polymer mixture of claim 1, wherein the first and second polymers are linear polymers.

5. The polymer mixture of claim 1, wherein only one non-repeating unit of the first polymer is different than the non-repeating unit of the second polymer.

6. The polymer mixture of claim 1, wherein the first polymer has a non-repeating end group comprising an ester, and the second polymer has a non-repeating end group comprising a carboxylic acid.

7. The polymer mixture of claim 1, wherein the first or second polymer is poly(lactide), poly(glycolide), or poly(lactide-co-glycolide).

8. A method for making a polymer mixture, comprising:

a) providing a monomer composition comprising a cyclic ether, a cyclic ester, a cyclic carbonate, or a mixture thereof; and

b) contacting the monomer composition with at least two initiators comprising a first initiator and a second initiator that is different from the first initiator under reaction conditions effective to form the polymer mixture.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein if the monomer composition comprises caprolactone, and if one initiator comprises three or more functionalities that are capable of initiating a polymerization in the monomer composition, then the other initiators do not comprise a mono- or di-functional initiator capable of initiating a polymerization in the monomer composition.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein if the monomer composition comprises a lactone, and if one initiator comprises three or more functionalities that are capable of initiating a polymerization in the monomer composition, then the other initiators do not comprise a mono- or di-functional initiator capable of initiating a polymerization in the monomer composition.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the initiators all independently have one functionality capable of initiating a polymerization in the monomer composition.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the monomer composition comprises only one monomer type.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the monomer composition comprises at least two monomer types.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the monomer composition comprises lactide, glycolide, or a combination thereof.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and/or second initiator comprises one or more of water, a hydroxyl acid, an alcohol, an amine, or a thiol.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and/or second initiator comprises one or more of water, 1-dodecanol, hexane diol, lactic acid, glycolic acid, methyl glycolate, ethyl glycolate, or a combination thereof.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second initiator comprises one or more of 1-aminohexane, 1,6-diaminohexane, glycine, or arginine.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second initiator comprises hydroxyl terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and an alcohol.

19. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second initiator comprises hydroxyl terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and water.

20. A polymer mixture formed by the method of claim 8.