Abstract
The polycondensation of bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) was kinetically investigated in the presence of zinc acetate as a catalyst at 283°C. The reaction was followed by molecular weight measurements on the polymers formed. These molecular weights were found to have maximum values at a certain reaction time. To explain these observations an irreversible degradation reaction was assumed to occur simultaneously with the polycondensation reaction. If p and d are rate parameters associated with the rate constants of propagation and degradation reactions, respectively, and t is the reaction time, the following relation was finally obtained for the degree of polymerization (DP): 1 DP (=n) = dt + (1 + pt) . This sample equation was found to be in good agreement with the experimental results. Using this equation the effects of temperature and stirring could be studied for both reactions.
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