Cyclic Poly(phthalaldehyde): Thermoforming a Bulk Transient Material

Cyclic poly(phthalaldehyde) (cPPA) is a metastable and stimuli responsive polymer that undergoes rapid solid state depolymerization and has been utilized as a packaging and encapsulating material for transient applications. However, the early onset thermal depolymerization of cPPA severely hinders the fabrication and processing of plastic parts. Herein, the thermally triggered depolymerization of cPPA was investigated and tailored to enable thermal processing and molding of cPPA at moderate temperatures below the thermal depolymerization temperature. Stabilization of cPPA at elevated temperature was accomplished by removal of the latent Lewis acid catalyst BF₃ and by addition of radical inhibitors and a Lewis base. Addition of a plasticizer to the stabilized cPPA enabled the fabrication of a monolithic solid polymer via hot press molding. Importantly, it is shown that the thermally processed cPPA retains its stimuli responsive depolymerization capability and will enable future work in the fabrication of bulk plastic parts that depolymerize and disintegrate on demand.