Polyurethane networks from fatty-acid-based aromatic triols: synthesis and characterization

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Organic Synthesis
• Materials Science

Background:

• Development of sustainable and biobased polymers is crucial for reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
• Aromatic triols offer unique structural properties for polymer synthesis.
• Fatty acid derivatives present a renewable feedstock for chemical synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel biobased aromatic triols from renewable fatty acid methyl esters.
• To develop biobased segmented polyurethanes using these novel triols.
• To investigate the influence of hard-segment content on the morphology and thermal properties of the synthesized polyurethanes.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of biobased aromatic triols via transition-metal-catalyzed cyclotrimerization and ester reduction.
• Polyurethane synthesis using synthesized triols, 1,4-butanediol, and 4,4'-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate).
• Characterization of polyurethane morphology and thermal properties using FTIR, WAXD, DSC, TGA, and DMTA.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of two novel biobased aromatic triols: 1,3,5-(9-hydroxynonyl)benzene and 1,3,5-(8-hydroxyoctyl)-2,4,6-octylbenzene.
• Biobased segmented polyurethanes were synthesized with hard-segment contents up to 50%.
• Partial crystallinity and phase separation were observed in polyurethanes with 50% hard-segment content.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized biobased aromatic triols are viable building blocks for creating novel polyurethane materials.
• The properties of these biobased polyurethanes can be tailored by adjusting the hard-segment content.
• The observed partial crystallinity and phase separation suggest potential for applications requiring specific mechanical and thermal characteristics.