KES1-0106
Sustainable engineering polymers - combining bio-based resources with function integration and recycling-on-demand
When and Where
Oct 3, 2025
12:00am - 12:00am
Presenter(s)
Brigitte Voit (Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
The incorporation of biobased monomers into polymer structures offers the possibility to develop materials in a more climate-friendly and sustainable way. In the recent years we have developed thermoplastic and duroplastic polymer materials with specific biobased units for integrating specific functions. An example will be given for liquid crystalline polyesters with bio-based vanillic acid units allowing blending with lignin fraction. The resulting melt-spun fibers are excellent precursor fibers for carbon fibers. In addition, incorporation of unsaturated ferulic acid units allows stabilization of fibers by electron beam irradiation, increasing mechanical strength. We also present the successful preparation of novel polyester extrusion foams from dilinoleic derivatives for moulded parts and insulations. PBT-based terpolyesters with dilinoleic derivatives were prepared to introduce long alkyl chains as side chains into the polyester basic structure which alters the rheological behavior, especially the elongational rheology towards strain hardening with strong positive influence on the properties of the resulting foam (density, morphology, cell density, weldability. Interestingly, PBT can be replaced in part by polybutylenefuranoate, a fully bio-based polyester with reactive functions for foam stabilization. First examples of effective recycling on demand will be shown for those engineering polyesters. Mechanochemical recycling in a ball mill leads effectively to pure monomers without any work up. Introduction of labile acetal units allows the specific degradation into oligoesters which can be effectively re-polymerized into high molar mass products.6 Finally, biobased resins components will be introduced, based on terpenes and various sugar components, that can replace effectively a common methylenediphenylisocyanate dimethacrylate (UMA) crosslinker in high performance duromers and coatings.
