Biomass- and Carbon Dioxide-Derived Polyurethane Networks for Thermal Interface Material Applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• Growing environmental concerns drive demand for renewable polymers and sustainable resource utilization.
• Biomass-derived components and carbon dioxide (CO2) are key sustainable resources.
• Development of efficient and eco-friendly polymer synthesis methods is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop crosslinked polyurethanes (CPUs) from CO2 and biomass-derived monomers.
• To investigate a facile, solvent-free mechanochemical approach for polymer fabrication.
• To create high thermal conductivity hybrid composites for advanced applications.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of furan-containing bis(cyclic carbonate)s via CO2 fixation.
• Aminolysis of bis(cyclic carbonate)s to form furan-containing cyclic tetraols (FCTs).
• Solvent-free ball milling process for CPU and CPU-Ag hybrid composite synthesis.
• Characterization using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, stress relaxation, and laser flash analysis.

Main Results:

• Successful fabrication of CPUs and CPU-Ag hybrid composites using a mechanochemical ball milling process.
• Demonstration of dynamic covalent chemistry (transcarbamoylation) in the CPU matrix, enabling malleability.
• Achieved high thermal conductivity in CPU-based hybrid materials, reaching up to 51.1 W/m·K.
• Confirmation of low interfacial thermal resistance due to the dynamic nature of the polymer matrix.

Conclusions:

• The mechanochemical approach provides a facile and sustainable route for producing advanced polymers and hybrid composites.
• The developed CPUs and CPU-Ag composites possess desirable properties like high thermal conductivity and malleability.
• This work offers a promising pathway for utilizing CO2 and biomass in functional material development.