Thermodynamics of fusion of poly-β-propiolactone and poly-ϵ-caprolactone. comparative analysis of the melting of aliphatic polylactone and polyester chains

The results obtained in a study of the heat and entropy of fusion, and a few data on the crystallization kinetics, of poly-β-propiolactone and poly-ϵ-caprolactone are reported. Attention is focused on the entropy data for the two polymers. A comparative, theoretical analysis of the constantvolume entropy of melting of the polylactones and of three aliphatic polyesters is made. The remainder of the entropy of melting of the polymers considered is qualitatively correlated with chemical constitution and crystal structures.