Nature Communications · 2018 · 221 citations · 21 references
Natural SciencesMaterials EngineeringMaterials SciencePolymer ChemistryPolymer EngineeringPolymer MaterialsBioplastic ProductionPolymer ProcessingPolymer ProductionPolymerization ProcessesRing-opening PolymerizationThermoplastic PolymersDegradationPolycondensationPolyethylenePolyethylene TerephthalatePolymer PlasticizationRing-opening PolycondensationTemperature Effects On DegradationTemperature-dependent Degradation
PEF is a promising renewable bioplastic that can replace PET with superior properties, but conventional polycondensation is time‑intensive and causes degradation and discoloration, while cyclic oligomers melt at ~370 °C, above PEF’s degradation temperature (~329 °C). The study demonstrates a rapid synthesis of bottle‑grade PEF via ring‑opening polymerisation of cyclic oligomers within minutes, avoiding degradation and discoloration. This is achieved by exploiting the self‑plasticising effect of the forming polymer, which melts around 220 °C, and initiating the reaction in the presence of a high‑boiling, removable, inert liquid plasticiser. The process yields bottle‑grade PEF with Mn > 30 kg mol⁻¹, conversion > 95 %, colour‑free products, and can be extended to other diffusion‑limited polymer systems.
Polyethylene furanoate (PEF) represents a promising renewable resource-based bioplastic as replacement for fossil-based polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with improved material properties. However, the synthesis of PEF through conventional polycondensation remains challenging, since the time-intensive reaction leads to degradation and undesired discolouration of the product. Here we show the successful rapid synthesis of bottle-grade PEF via ring-opening polymerisation (ROP) from cyclic PEF oligomers within minutes, thereby avoiding degradation and discolouration. The melting point of such mixture of cyclic oligomers lies around 370 °C, well above the degradation temperature of PEF (~329 °C). This challenge can be overcome, exploiting the self-plasticising effect of the forming polymer itself (which melts around 220 °C) by initiation in the presence of a high boiling, yet removable, and inert liquid plasticiser. This concept yields polymer grades required for bottle applications (Mn > 30 kg mol-1, conversion > 95%, colour-free products), and can be extended to other diffusion-limited polymer systems.
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Opportunities and challenges for a sustainable energy future
Steven Chu, Arun Majumdar · Nature · 2012 · 12.2K citations
Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Renewable Energy Systems +11