Synergetic Effect of Aluminum Alkoxide and Zinc Glutarate in the Catalytic Terpolymerization of Propylene Oxide/CO ₂ /Succinic Anhydride

ABSTRACT In this study, we prepared a PPC‐SA with high water vapor barrier properties. A new catalyst system was designed for highly efficient terpolymerization of propylene oxide (PO), carbon dioxide, and succinic anhydride (SA). Using aluminum alkoxide as a co‐catalyst and combining it with zinc glutarate to form a composite catalyst, the yield of the ternary copolymer was successfully increased from 51.4 to 147.8 g polymer /g cat. , representing a threefold improvement. The number‐average molecular weight of the resulting polymer was determined to be 10.5 × 10 4 g/mol using gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The thermal and mechanical properties, as well as the water vapor permeability of the ternary copolymer, were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), tensile testing, and water vapor transmittance testing. This work guides the design of catalysts for CO 2 copolymerization and the utilization of CO 2 to produce new carbon dioxide‐based plastics.