Synthesis of Lignocellulose-Based Poly(Butylene 3-Propyladipate-Co-Furanoate): Replacing Adipate

A novel lignocellulose-based poly(butylene 3-propyladipate-co-furanoate) (PBA_pF) was synthesized from lignocellulose-derived 3-propyladipic acid (3PAA), 1,4-butanediol (BDO), and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). The copolyesters were characterized by ¹H NMR, GPC, DSC, TGA, XRD, DMA, rotational rheology, tensile tests, and enzymatic degradation tests. They were random copolymers whose composition was well controlled, and the number-average sequence lengths of the copolyesters were around 1.35-4.33. By combining the results of tensile tests and DMA, the elongation at break of PBA_pF₄₅ (1865%) had a much greater value than that of PBAF₄₅ (1250%), i.e., the branching incorporated into the linear polymer increased the melt strength and conferred tension-hardening properties, which helped to enhance the elongation of the polymer. In addition, the influences of 3PAA content on enzymatic degradation were studied in terms of weight loss; when the content of 3PAA was 55 mol%, the copolyesters exhibited good biodegradability. Thus, depending on their composition, PBA_pF_S might find end applications as biodegradable elastomers or impact modifiers for other polymers.