High molecular weight, amorphous poly(propylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) has been aged at 135°C for different times. The crystal phase contributes to achieve exceptionally low oxygen transmission rates and also good impermeability to water vapors, making PPF one of the most interesting fully biobased polyesters for packaging applications. † Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Synthesis of PPF, film preparation and ageing experiments are provided. 1 H NMR, DSC, WAXD and DMTA characterization, density and permeability measurements are described. See

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Poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PEF) is considered today as a very promising biobased polymer for packaging applications. Most often, scientific literature describes synthetic procedures based on the transesterification of the dimethylester of the 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, whereas this paper aims at studying the possibility of a practical and profitable synthetic route for PEF comprising a direct esterification stage of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid. In that respect two catalysts, zinc acetate and aluminum acetylacetonate, chosen for their compatibility with food contact applications and for featuring a potentially reduced environmental impact, were investigated. The synthesis was performed by using tight reaction conditions: low excess of diol and short reaction time. Interesting results were obtained in terms of final PEF viscosity, color, and diethylene glycol content, that may strongly influence thermal and barrier properties. Furthermore, the obtained amorphous polymers are potentially suitable for the manufacturing of various packaging articles such as oriented films and bottles.

A new and sustainable pathway for the synthesis of polyesters and copolyesters derived from vanillic acid is reported. The one-pot procedure does not require either solvents or purification steps. New bio-based crystalline copolymers with tunable thermal properties are obtained.

A new method for the synthesis of polyesters that combines the chemical recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) with the use of monomers derived from renewable resources, such as isosorbide and succinic acid, has been developed. A kinetic study has been performed in order to determine the best catalyst for PET depolymerisation with isosorbide and for the subsequent polycondensation of PET oligomers with succinic acid. Using the correct amounts of isosorbide and succinic acid it is possible to obtain polymers which well fit the properties (glass transition temperature and end-group composition) necessary for powder coating applications. The coating produced using this new environmentally friendly approach presents applicative properties similar, and in some cases superior, to those of a commercial coating obtained from non-renewable resources.