POS9-0107
Development of Bio-Polyurethane Elastomers through Chemical Modification of Poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) via Alcoholysis
Topic
S9. Polymer Technology for Sustainability
When and Where
Sep 30, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Heesuk KIM
Jinhye BAE
Presenter(s)
Ji-Heon Kim (Sogang University)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a bio-based and biodegradable polyester with considerable potential as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics. However, its practical applications are limited by its high brittleness, high crystallinity, and poor thermal stability. Although blending PHB with flexible polymers has been widely studied to improve its mechanical properties, the enhanced ductility often deteriorates over time due to the post-crystallization behavior of PHB.
In this study, PHB was chemically modified through alcoholysis to overcome these limitations. PHB diol was synthesized using 1,4-butanediol (BDO) and diglyme, and subsequently utilized as a polyol for the preparation of PHB-based polyurethane (PU) using isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and BDO. The molecular weight of the synthesized PHB diol was determined by 1H NMR analysis, while FT-IR and DSC analyses were performed to confirm polyurethane formation and investigate thermal properties. The resulting PHB-based polyurethane exhibited enhanced mechanical performance and maintained a tensile strength of 28 MPa with nearly 800% elongation after 15 days, indicating significantly suppressed embrittlement behavior compared to conventional PHB systems. These results demonstrate the potential of chemically modified PHB as a promising platform for durable and biodegradable polyurethane materials.
In this study, PHB was chemically modified through alcoholysis to overcome these limitations. PHB diol was synthesized using 1,4-butanediol (BDO) and diglyme, and subsequently utilized as a polyol for the preparation of PHB-based polyurethane (PU) using isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and BDO. The molecular weight of the synthesized PHB diol was determined by 1H NMR analysis, while FT-IR and DSC analyses were performed to confirm polyurethane formation and investigate thermal properties. The resulting PHB-based polyurethane exhibited enhanced mechanical performance and maintained a tensile strength of 28 MPa with nearly 800% elongation after 15 days, indicating significantly suppressed embrittlement behavior compared to conventional PHB systems. These results demonstrate the potential of chemically modified PHB as a promising platform for durable and biodegradable polyurethane materials.
