Thermally Healable Polyurethane Elastomers Based on Biomass Polyester Polyol from Isosorbide and Dimer Fatty Acid

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Sustainable Materials

Background:

• Developing sustainable polymers is crucial for reducing environmental impact.
• Bio-based polyols offer a renewable alternative to petroleum-based feedstocks.
• Polyurethane elastomers (PUEs) require enhanced mechanical and self-healing properties for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize a fully bio-based polyester polyol from isosorbide (ISB) and dimer fatty acid (DA).
• To develop a bio-based polyurethane elastomer (PUE) utilizing the synthesized ISB-based polyol.
• To evaluate the mechanical and self-healing performance of the novel DIS-based PUE.

Main Methods:

• Esterification reaction to synthesize ISB-based polyester polyol (DIS).
• Polyurethane synthesis using DIS and isocyanate.
• Mechanical testing (tensile properties) and self-healing efficiency assessment.
• Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and rheological studies.

Main Results:

• The ISB-based polyester polyol was successfully synthesized.
• The DIS-based PUE demonstrated significantly enhanced tensile properties due to ISB's rigid structure.
• Exceptional self-healing efficiency of 98% was achieved for DIS-based PUE, compared to 65% for control PUE.
• Reversible urethane bonds in DIS-based PUE contributed to rapid stress relaxation and sustained normal stress.

Conclusions:

• Isosorbide (ISB) is a promising bio-resource for creating high-performance bio-based polyester polyols.
• The developed ISB-based polyester polyol enables the synthesis of PUEs with superior mechanical strength and self-healing capabilities.
• This research highlights the potential of bio-based materials in developing advanced elastomers with enhanced functionalities.