Biobased poly(ethylene furanoate-co-ethylene succinate) copolyesters: solid state structure, melting point depression and biodegradability

Abstract

Poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF) is a fully bio-based polyester with unique gas barrier properties, considered an alternative to poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) in food packaging applications. However, it is not biodegradable. For this reason copolymerization with the aliphatic succinic acid monomer, was followed. The respective poly(ethylene furanoate-co-ethylene succinate) (PEFSu) copolymers were prepared via melt polycondensation from 2,5-dimethylfuran-dicarboxylate, succinic acid and ethylene glycol at different ratios.1 HNMR spectroscopy showed the copolymers are random. The crystallization and melting of the copolymers were thoroughly evaluated. Isodimorphic cocrystallization was concluded from both the 2 WAXD patterns and the minimum in the plots of melting temperature versus composition. The pseudo-eutectic melting point corresponded to an ethylene succinate content of about 30 mol%. The enzymatic hydrolysis tests using of Rhizopus delemarand Pseudomonas Cepacia lipase, revealed that the copolymers with up to 50 mol% ES units show measurable weight loss rates. For higher ES content, the copolymers showed fast hydrolysis.

High molecular weight poly(butylene terephthalate‐co‐butylene 2,5‐furan dicarboxylate) copolyesters: From synthesis to thermomechanical and barrier properties

“…This phenomenon confirmed the calculated results of crystallinity from first heating scan of DSC and explained the depressing effect of furan ring on PBT crystallization, and the similar phenomenon could be found in other literatures about furan-based copolyesters. [32,33] In Figure 5b, after isothermal crystallization of the specimens at 140 C for 60 min, PBTF-30, PBTF-45, PBTF-90, and PBF also displayed strong diffraction peaks, which indicated their good crystalline state, but PBTF-60 and PBTF-75 still kept amorphous state, that was also in agreement with DSC test results.…”

Sustainable Plastics from Biomass: Blends of Polyesters Based on 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid

“…However, recent progress has enabled the production of ethylene glycol and bio-terephthalic acid, so that biobased PET is also available now [41]. Furthermore, furan-based polymers are recyclable, yet non-biodegradable [42].Three basic ways exist to modify the polymers and thus arrive to polymeric materials with tailor-made properties. These are copolymerization, incorporation of additives resulting in composite or nanocomposite materials, or blending with other polymers.…”

“…However, recent progress has enabled the production of ethylene glycol and bio-terephthalic acid, so that biobased PET is also available now [41]. Furthermore, furan-based polymers are recyclable, yet non-biodegradable [42].…”

A Perspective on PEF Synthesis, Properties, and End-Life

“…One of the main approaches studied so far was the synthesis of furanic-aliphatic co-polyesters by incorporating a third component into the PEF backbone to tailor the thermal and mechanical properties (Xie et al, 2018), as well as the degradability profile. As noted previously for PEF, the molecular weight, crystallinity, kind of enzyme, and/or hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance also played a role on copolymers counterparts (Yu et al, 2013;Terzopoulou et al, 2016;Jia et al, 2018). One such study, making use of furanicaliphatic approach, is the work of Jia et al (2018).…”