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Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer
Published on: November 30, 2020
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Polysilylether: A Degradable Polymer from Biorenewable Feedstocks
Chen Cheng1, Annabelle Watts2, Marc A Hillmyer3
1Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|August 31, 2016
Summary
Researchers developed polysilylethers (PSEs) from plant-based materials. This sustainable synthesis yielded high-quality polymers with tunable properties, demonstrating their potential for creating new materials like polyurethanes.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Sustainable Chemistry
Background:
- Polysilylethers (PSEs) are versatile polymers.
- Developing sustainable routes for polymer synthesis is crucial.
- Biorenewable feedstocks offer a promising alternative to petrochemical sources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize polysilylethers (PSEs) from a monomer derived from a biorenewable feedstock.
- To control the polymerization process and resulting polymer properties.
- To demonstrate the utility of the synthesized PSEs in creating other materials.
Main Methods:
- An AB-type monomer was synthesized from undecenoic acid via hydrosilylation and reduction.
- Polymerization was catalyzed by earth-abundant metal salts.
- The degree of polymerization was controlled by incorporating an AA-type comonomer.
Main Results:
- High-molar-mass polysilylethers were successfully synthesized.
- The polymers exhibited good thermal stability.
- A low glass-transition temperature (Tg ≈ -67°C) was observed.
- Hydroxy-telechelic PSEs were used to synthesize polyurethanes.
Conclusions:
- A sustainable method for producing polysilylethers from biorenewable resources was established.
- The synthesized PSEs offer tunable properties and good thermal stability.
- These PSEs show potential as building blocks for advanced materials, such as polyurethanes.
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