Ring-opening copolymerization of phthalic anhydride (PA) with propylene oxide (PO) was successfully carried out by using double-metal cyanide (DMC). The characteristics of the copolymerization were presented and discussed.The structure of the copolymer was characterized with IR and 1H-NMR. The number-average molecular weight (Mn) and molecular weight distribution of the copolymer were measured by GPC. The results showed that DMC was a highly active catalyst for the copolymerization of PA and PO
giving high yield with a rate much higher than that of PO homopolymerization with the same catalyst at a low catalyst level of 60 mg/kg.This copolymerization can be also carried out in many organic solvents
and it was easier to be carried out in polar solvents such as THF and acetone than in non-polar solvents such as ether and cyclohexane.The proper temperature for reactions carried out in solutions was in the range of 90 ~ 100℃. That was lower than the temperature range for bulk-copolymerization.The Mn was affected by the catalyst level
reaction temperature and trace water.Mn was in a range of 2500~4000 under firm polymerization conditions by removing trace water and other impurities.The kinetics of the copolymerization was also studied.The results indicated a first order relationship between the copolymerization rate and the monomer concentration.