High performance long chain polyesters via melt copolymerization of cutin-inspired monomers

Zewen Zhu; Joshua T. Damron; Jong K. Keum; Logan Kearney; Vera Bocharova; Jeffrey C. Foster

doi:10.1039/d4su00454j

High performance long chain polyesters via melt copolymerization of cutin-inspired monomers

Zewen Zhu, Joshua T. Damron, Jong K. Keum, Logan Kearney, Vera Bocharova, Jeffrey C. Foster

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Biopolymers have exhibited potential as sustainable and circular replacements to existing commodity thermoplastic polymers. However, current biopolymers are limited by poor thermomechanical performance compared with their petroleum-derived counterparts. Herein, we report a simple strategy to achieve good mechanical properties in bio-inspired long-chain polyesters via melt copolymerization. By combining mono- and poly-hydroxyl functionalized long chain fatty acids, we show that tough, semi-crystalline materials can be produced that outperform related biopolymers in terms of their thermomechanical behavior. We envision that long-chain polyesters derived from hydroxylated fatty acids represent an ideal platform to create the next generation of commodity thermoplastics that possess advantaged properties, inherent biodegradability, and feedstock stability.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3289-3297
Number of pages	9
Journal	RSC Sustainability
Volume	2
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1039/d4su00454j
State	Published - Sep 24 2024

Funding

This research was sponsored by the Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program of Oak Ridge National Laboratory managed by UT-Battelle LLC for the U.S. DOE. J. C. F. was supported by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division. The authors acknowledge Wim Bras for assistance in interpreting X-ray scattering data. This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle LLC under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The U.S. government retains, and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the U.S. government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for U.S. government purposes. DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan ( https://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan ).

Funders	Funder number
Basic Energy Sciences
Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Science
UT-Battelle	DE-AC05-00OR22725

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AB - Biopolymers have exhibited potential as sustainable and circular replacements to existing commodity thermoplastic polymers. However, current biopolymers are limited by poor thermomechanical performance compared with their petroleum-derived counterparts. Herein, we report a simple strategy to achieve good mechanical properties in bio-inspired long-chain polyesters via melt copolymerization. By combining mono- and poly-hydroxyl functionalized long chain fatty acids, we show that tough, semi-crystalline materials can be produced that outperform related biopolymers in terms of their thermomechanical behavior. We envision that long-chain polyesters derived from hydroxylated fatty acids represent an ideal platform to create the next generation of commodity thermoplastics that possess advantaged properties, inherent biodegradability, and feedstock stability.

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High performance long chain polyesters via melt copolymerization of cutin-inspired monomers

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