Poly(alkylene 2,4-furanoate)s: The potential of structural isomerism for outstanding sustainable food packaging and unexpected evidence of self-healing microstructure
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
2,5-furandicarboxylic acid is an extremely appealing renewable chemical building block because of its potential to replace the petrochemical and industrially widespread terephthalic acid via the synthesis of poly(alkylene 2,5-furanoate)s (2,5-PAF). The recent interest in its structural isomer, 2,4-furandicarboxylic acid (2,4-FDCA), opened the study of poly(alkylene 2,4-furanoate)s (2,4-PAF). In this work, 2,4-FDCA was polymerized with linear glycols of increasing chain length, via a solvent-free polycondensation reaction, obtaining high molecular weight 2,4-PAF. Namely, poly(trimethylene 2,4-furanoate) (2,4-PTF), poly(pentamethylene 2,4-furanoate) (2,4-PPeF) and poly(hexamethylene 2,4-furanoate) (2,4-PHF). These polyesters were compression molded into films and subjected to NMR, GPC, WAXS, PLOM, TGA and DSC analyses. The functional properties for food packaging applications were evaluated by mechanical and gas permeability tests. 2,4-PAF had tunable mechanical properties, depending on the glycol used, and in some cases, the mechanical behavior of a thermoplastic elastomer and shape recovery after break. In particular, 2,4-PPeF had outstanding gas barrier properties, while DSC analyses on 2,4-PHF showed an endothermic phenomenon attributed to the isotropization of a partially-ordered phase: it was possible to demonstrate that this phase was disrupted during tensile tests and slowly recovered over time, at room temperature. Overall, the results offer new insights into the structure-property relationships of poly(alkylene 2,4-furanoate)s and display their great potential for the production of biobased, monomaterial, easily recyclable and sustainable food packaging.
期刊介绍:
Reactive & Functional Polymers provides a forum to disseminate original ideas, concepts and developments in the science and technology of polymers with functional groups, which impart specific chemical reactivity or physical, chemical, structural, biological, and pharmacological functionality. The scope covers organic polymers, acting for instance as reagents, catalysts, templates, ion-exchangers, selective sorbents, chelating or antimicrobial agents, drug carriers, sensors, membranes, and hydrogels. This also includes reactive cross-linkable prepolymers and high-performance thermosetting polymers, natural or degradable polymers, conducting polymers, and porous polymers.
Original research articles must contain thorough molecular and material characterization data on synthesis of the above polymers in combination with their applications. Applications include but are not limited to catalysis, water or effluent treatment, separations and recovery, electronics and information storage, energy conversion, encapsulation, or adhesion.