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Polymer Classification: Architecture

Polymer Classification: Architecture

Polymers are classified as linear or branched on the basis of their chain architecture. The polymer chains in linear polymers have a long chain-like structure with minimal to no branching at all. Even if a polymer features large substituent groups on the monomer, which appear as branches to the skeleton, it is not considered a branched polymer. A branched polymer contains secondary polymer chains that arise from the main polymer chain. The branching occurs when the polymer growth shifts from...

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers

Copolymers are the products obtained from the polymerization of multiple monomer species. So, in a polymer chain itself, there can be multiple repeating units that come from different monomers. The process of synthesizing a polymer from different monomer species is called copolymerization. When two monomers are involved, the polymer is known as a bipolymer. Polymers with three and four monomers are termed terpolymers and quaterpolymers, respectively. Figure 1 depicts the copolymerization of...

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

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The introduction of polyesters has brought major development to the textile industry. The wrinkle-free behavior of polyester blends has eliminated the need for starching and ironing clothes.
Polyesters are commonly prepared from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; the crude product is known as poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET. However, polyesters are synthesized industrially by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol at 150 °C. The two reactants and the...

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview

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Recently, the development of olefin metathesis polymerization advanced the field of polymer synthesis. Simply put, the reorganization of substituents on their double bonds between two olefins in the presence of a catalyst is known as the olefin metathesis reaction. The use of metathesis reaction for polymer synthesis is called olefin metathesis polymerization.
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists...

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The conversion of alkenes to macromolecules called polymers is a reaction of high commercial importance. The structure of the polymer is defined by a repeating unit, while the terminal groups are considered insignificant. The average degree of polymerization represents the number of repeating units in the polymer molecule and is denoted by the subscript n.

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Homopolymers

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Polymers that are made up of identical monomer units are called homopolymers. Only one repeating unit is involved in the construction of the homopolymer structure. For example, as depicted in Figure 1, polypropylene is a homopolymer constituted of propylene monomers. Here, the only repeating unit in the polymer chain is propylene.

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Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer

Published on: November 30, 2020

Chemically recyclable polyolefin-like multiblock polymers.

Yucheng Zhao¹, Emma M Rettner², Katherine L Harry¹

¹Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|October 19, 2023

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Chemically recyclable polyolefin-like materials were created using multiblock polymers. These materials can be deconstructed into building blocks for a closed-loop recycling process, addressing plastic waste.

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Anionic Polymerization of an Amphiphilic Copolymer for Preparation of Block Copolymer Micelles Stabilized by π-π Stacking Interactions

Anionic Polymerization of an Amphiphilic Copolymer for Preparation of Block Copolymer Micelles Stabilized by π-π Stacking Interactions

Published on: October 10, 2016

Area of Science:

Polymer Chemistry
Materials Science
Sustainable Plastics

Background:

Polyolefins are widely used plastics, but their disposal and recycling pose significant environmental challenges, contributing to a global plastic waste crisis.
Effective recycling methods for polyolefins are limited, necessitating innovative approaches to manage plastic waste.
The development of advanced materials with inherent recyclability is crucial for sustainable plastic management.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop chemically recyclable polyolefin-like materials with tunable mechanical properties.
To demonstrate a closed-loop recycling process for these novel materials.
To create versatile plastics suitable for a wide range of applications.

Main Methods:

Synthesis of hard and soft oligomeric building blocks via ruthenium-mediated ring-opening metathesis polymerization of cyclooctenes.
Construction of multiblock polymers from these oligomeric precursors.
Characterization of the mechanical properties and thermal transitions (T_m, T_g) of the resulting polymers.

Main Results:

Multiblock polymers exhibiting a broad spectrum of mechanical properties, from elastomers to thermoplastics, were successfully synthesized.
Materials demonstrated a wide range of thermal properties, with melting transition temperatures (T_m) up to 128°C and glass transition temperatures (T_g) as low as -60°C.
Efficient deconstruction of the polymers back to their constituent building blocks was achieved, enabling separation and repolymerization.

Conclusions:

The developed multiblock polymers offer a promising route to chemically recyclable polyolefin-like materials.
The ability to tune mechanical and thermal properties makes these materials suitable for diverse applications.
The demonstrated closed-loop recycling process provides a sustainable solution to plastic waste management, aligning with circular economy principles.