Chemically Recyclable Biobased Polyurethanes

Abstract

Polyurethanes (PUs), in the form of coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers, and foams, play a vital role in the consumer goods, automotive, and construction industries. However, the inevitable disposal of nondegradable postconsumer polyurethane products constitutes a massive waste management problem that has yet to be solved. We address this challenge through the synthesis of biobased and chemically recyclable polyurethanes. Our approach employs renewable and degradable hydroxy telechelic poly(β-methyl-δvalerolactone) as a replacement for petroleum-derived polyols in the synthesis of both thermoplastic polyurethanes and flexible foams. These materials rival petroleum-derived PUs in performance and can also be easily recycled to recover βmethyl-δ-valerolactone monomer in high purity and high yield. This recycling strategy bypasses many of the technical challenges that currently preclude the practical chemical recycling of PUs.

Recyclable bio‐based crosslinked polyurethanes with self‐healing ability

“…However, the inherent structural heterogeneities of plant oil challenge the resulting bio‐based polyols and PUs with consistent properties . Additionally, most bio‐based PUs (bio‐PUs) derived from plant oil are resistant to degradation, which display similar disposal challenges as do their petroleum‐based counterparts …”

Living Coordination Polymerization of a Six‐Five Bicyclic Lactone to Produce Completely Recyclable Polyester

“…Chemically recyclable polymers [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] have attracted increasing attention in recent years because they allow for recovery of the building block chemicals via depolymerization or creative repurposing through generation of value-added materials,t hus offering af easible solution to the end-of-use issue of polymeric materials and providing ac losed-loop approach towards ac ircular materials economy. [13] However, three key challenges still remain before this approach becomes technologically and economically competitive: energy input, depolymerization selectivity,a nd depolymerizability/performance tradeoff.…”

Catalyst‐Sidearm‐Induced Stereoselectivity Switching in Polymerization of a Racemic Lactone for Stereocomplexed Crystalline Polymer with a Circular Life Cycle

“…Chemically recyclable polymers [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] have lately attracted growing attention because their building block chemicals,o r monomers,c an be recovered for the production of virgin plastics with the same qualities as the original, thus offering af easible solution to the end-of-use issue of polymeric materials and providing ac losed-loop approach towards acircular materials economy. [14] However, there is aparadox between the ability to depolymerize and performance,where polymers that can be readily depolymerized back to monomers often lack physical properties and mechanical strengths to be widely useful, and vice versa.…”