The development of nanostructures has received notoriety due to the properties that the nanometric scale provides to the material. Among these properties, the increase in the catalytic activity due to the high specific surface area of nanostructures has been the focus of several studies. Among the nanometric catalysts that have been studied, titanate nanotubes present versatility of applications since they can be modified through the functionalization or ion exchange adding the structure metals that increase the catalytic efficiency. For the depolymerization of post‐consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles by glycolysis, a chemical recycling method that is in accordance with the principles of sustainable development, which aims to obtain the bis(2‐hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) monomer, sodium titanate nanotubes (NaTNT) and zinc titanate nanotubes (ZnTNT) were used as catalysts. The nanostructures were efficient in the PET depolymerization reaction for 2, 3, and 4 h, converting PET into BHET with yield higher than 65% (w/w).

Nanocomposites of Titanates Nanotubes (TNTs) and waterborne polyurethane were prepared by physical mixture using ultra turrax disperser. TNTs were synthesized by hydrothermal method and added in different contents: 1, 3, and 5% w/w in relation to polymer weight. Films were prepared and characterized by DSC, TGA, DMA and SEM. The increase of fillers content reduced the thermal stability of DPU nanocomposites compared to pure DPU and did not modify the glass transition temperature. To mechanical properties, the addition of 3% and 5% of TNT increased the Young's modulus when compared with pure DPU, but nanocomposite with 1% of TNT presented a decrease in Young's modulus. The stress × strain curves of DPU/TNT 5% presented characteristic behavior of rigid material, with low deformation, unlike other nanocomposites and pure DPU. SEM and TGA analysis proves that the preparation method used promoted the incorporation and good filler dispersion in the polymer matrix.