Bio-Based Copolyester PEIFT: Enhanced Hydrophilicity, Rigidity, and Applications in Nanofibers

Area of Science:

• Polymer Science
• Materials Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) relies on non-sustainable petroleum resources.
• Previous attempts to incorporate biomass-derived 2,5-tetrahydrofurfuryl dimethanol (THFDM) into PET reduced heat resistance.
• A need exists for sustainable polymers with enhanced thermal and mechanical properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel bio-based copolyester, poly(ethylene glycol-co-2,5-tetrahydrofuran dimethanol-co-isosorbide terephthalate) (PEIFT).
• To improve the properties of PET by incorporating biomass-derived isosorbide (ISB) and THFDM.
• To evaluate PEIFT's potential as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based polymers.

Main Methods:

• Melting copolymerization process to synthesize PEIFT.
• Incorporation of isosorbide (ISB) and 2,5-tetrahydrofurfuryl dimethanol (THFDM) into PET chains.
• Characterization of PEIFT's thermal, mechanical, and hydrophobic properties.

Main Results:

• PEIFT exhibits improved hydrophilicity, rigidity, and a glass transition temperature (T_g) increase of over 5°C compared to PET.
• The addition of THFDM enhanced PEIFT's toughness and spinning performance.
• PEIFT demonstrated excellent hydrophobicity, with a contact angle exceeding 135°, suitable for electrospinning.

Conclusions:

• PEIFT, a novel bio-based copolyester, offers a sustainable alternative to petroleum-derived PET.
• The incorporation of ISB and THFDM significantly enhances thermal stability, mechanical properties, and hydrophobicity.
• PEIFT nanofibers show potential for applications in hydrophobic materials and filter films.