Saccharides-Based Polymers for Low Environmental Impact Adhesive Formulations.

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• Growing demand for sustainable materials in high-performance applications.
• Need for eco-friendly comonomers in vinyl and acrylic adhesive systems.
• Hydroxyl functionalities are crucial for post-cross-linking and thermohygrometric stress resistance in adhesives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize novel saccharide-based copolymers for adhesive applications.
• To evaluate the potential of these copolymers as sustainable alternatives to conventional adhesives.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of using straightforwardly synthesized, polymerizable saccharide monomers.

Main Methods:

• Free radical copolymerization of allyl-functionalized saccharide monomers with ethyl methacrylate and vinyl acetate.
• Synthesis of allyl α,α'-trehalose and allyl methyl glucopyranoside via a one-step, protecting-group-free procedure.
• Characterization using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC).

Main Results:

• Obtained copolymers with higher molecular weights suitable for film-forming adhesive applications.
• Demonstrated the replacement of environmentally impactful units like N-methylol acrylamide with saccharide monomers.
• Adhesion tests on beech wood showed promising performance, with and without isocyanate cross-linking.

Conclusions:

• Saccharide-based copolymers are viable renewable components for low environmental impact adhesive systems.
• The developed monomers offer a sustainable and efficient route to bio-based polymers for adhesives.
• These findings provide a promising alternative to conventional adhesive formulations, meeting demands for sustainability and performance.