Polycaprolactone
Chemical compound / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a synthetic, semi-crystalline, biodegradable polyester with a melting point of about 60 °C and a glass transition temperature of about −60 °C.[2][3] The most common use of polycaprolactone is in the production of speciality polyurethanes. Polycaprolactones impart good resistance to water, oil, solvent and chlorine to the polyurethane produced.
Names | |
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IUPAC name
(1,7)-Polyoxepan-2-one | |
Systematic IUPAC name
Poly(hexano-6-lactone) | |
Other names
2-Oxepanone homopolymer 6-Caprolactone polymer | |
Identifiers | |
Abbreviations | PCL |
ChemSpider |
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Properties | |
(C6H10O2)n | |
Density | 1.145 g/cm3 |
Melting point | 60 °C (140 °F) |
Thermal conductivity | 0.05 W/(m K) @25°C[1] |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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This polymer is often used as an additive for resins to improve their processing characteristics and their end use properties (e.g., impact resistance). Being compatible with a range of other materials, PCL can be mixed with starch to lower its cost and increase biodegradability or it can be added as a polymeric plasticizer to polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Polycaprolactone is also used for splinting, modeling, and as a feedstock for prototyping systems such as fused filament fabrication 3D printers.