Preparation of high‐performance polyurethane elastomers via direct use of alcoholyzed waste PET by high molecular weight polyester diols

Abstract

Products obtained by alcoholysis of waste PET are promising raw materials for the synthesis of polyurethane elastomers (PUEs). Alcoholysis of PET by low molecular weight diols such as ethylene glycol yields low molecular weight products. The latter need to be polymerized to high molecular weight polyols

Chemical recycling of post-consumer PET into high-performance polymer aerogels

“…10,11 Another approach is chemical recycling of PET at the molecular level, which encompasses the depolymerization of PET waste into virgin monomers or value-added chemicals. 12–15 For example, a library of excellent research studies has upcycled PET waste into specific key intermediates for the synthesis of functional polymers such as polyurethane, 16 polyester, 17–19 polyimine, 20 epoxy, 21 acrylic and alkyd resins, 22 as well as small molecules such as p -xylene, 23 formate salts, 24 and dichloroethane. 25 However, owing to deep depolymerization at the molecular level, chemical recycling faces difficulty in separation and purification of small molecule products.…”