Study of Organic Aluminum Compounds Catalysts in Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Synthesis

Abstract

This paper presents a series of organic aluminum compounds as new polycondensation catalysts in poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) synthesis. Their catalytic activity in the esterification process is monitored by measuring the amount of water generated, while intrinsic viscosity is used as the index in the polycondensation process. Aluminum alkoxide shows higher activity than the other catalysts, but they can not be used as esterification catalyst. Aluminum b-ketoesters can be used as esterification and polycondensation catalyst and their activity is similar to aluminum alkoxide. The result shows that the activity of aluminum b-diketones and b-ketoesters is related to the ligand of b-diketones and b-ketoesters. Ethylene glycol aluminum was synthesized and applied in poly(ethylene terephthalate) synthesis. From this study, ethylene glycol aluminum was proved to be the real catalyst for using organic aluminum compounds as catalysts in poly(ethylene terephthalate) synthesis.