Cyclohexene oxide copolymer (PCHC) with high molecular weight was synthesized using ternary rare earth metal coordinate catalyst (Y(Cl3COO)3ZnEt2 glycerine).The catalytic activity reached 11.8 kg polymer/mole Zn under optimal condition

the obtained PCHC showed number average molecular weight (Mn) of 7.0104

with carbonate unit over 95%.The glass transition temperature (Tg) of PCHC was between 110℃ and 120℃

it increased with increasing Mn when Mn was below 8.5104

and leveled between 119℃ and 120℃ when Mn was over 8.5104. The highest Tg may be reached as 120℃ if the Mn of PCHC is high enough

and the characteristic free volume constant K is 1.91105. The influence of molecular weight on thermal stability of PCHC was investigated

raising molecular weight was beneficial for improving thermal stability of PCHC

and a 60℃ increase of the onset degradation temperature was observed when Mn increased from 39.9103 to 93.1103. Since the rare earth ternary catalyst changed to metal oxide (mainly ZnO) after polymerization and post-polymerization treatments

the influence of Zn content on thermal stability of PCHC was studied based on Kissinger method

PCHC with Zn content below 510-6 showed surface activation energy for thermal decomposition of 199.9 kJ/mol

whereas it decreased to 143.9 kJ/mol for PCHC with Zn content of 440010-6.Therefore

reducing Zn content could improve the thermal stability of PCHC.