Renewable Responsive Systems Based on Original Click and Polyurethane Cross-Linked Architectures with Advanced...

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• Polyurethanes (PUs) are versatile polymers with broad applications.
• Developing sustainable and recyclable PU materials is a key challenge.
• Vegetable oil-based polymers offer a renewable alternative to petroleum-based plastics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize a novel furan oligomer (FO) from oleic acid for creating thermoreversible polyurethanes.
• To investigate the integration and cross-linking of FO into a rapeseed-based PU backbone via Diels-Alder (DA) reactions.
• To characterize the properties and performance of the resulting thermoreversible PU network.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and full characterization of the furan oligomer (FO).
• Integration of FO into a linear rapeseed-based polyurethane backbone.
• Cross-linking of the PU system using a bismaleimide via Diels-Alder (DA) reaction.
• Analysis of material properties using standard characterization techniques.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of a novel diol structure with pendant furan rings (FO) from oleic acid.
• Creation of the first reported thermoreversible PU network based on vegetable oil.
• Demonstration of tunable mechanical properties and thermoresponsive behavior by varying FO content.
• Exhibition of good thermal stability, recyclability through successive reprocessing, and macroscopic self-healing abilities.

Conclusions:

• The developed FO-based PU system represents a significant advancement in sustainable polymer chemistry.
• The thermoreversible nature, achieved through DA chemistry, enables efficient recycling and self-healing.
• These novel materials offer a promising platform for developing advanced, eco-friendly polymers with tailored functionalities.