A recent study published in Angewandte Chemie, the highly reputed journal published by the German Chemical Society has stirred interest in two novel polymers and the chemistry underpinning their characteristics.
The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Birmingham, U.K. and Duke University, U.S.. They describe the exceptional strength and toughness of two polymers based on isosorbide and isomannide made from sugars. The two polymers offer superior properties to conventional thermoplastic elastomers, and are degradable and mechanically recyclable., say the researchers.
The researchers moreover discovered that the polymer made from isosorbide displayed superior elastic recovery and toughness which was shown to be a result of the stereochemistry of the sugar groups in the materials.
“Isosorbide is a renewable feedstock alternative to petroleum derivatives for commercial polymer production,” said Andrew Dove, from Birmingham’s School of Chemistry. “It is derived from plants, and, as one of the top 20 biomass sourced molecules, is available at a scale that is consistent with commercial production of bioplastics.”
Using computer simulations and other experimental techniques, the researchers showed that the difference in elastic recovery results from the way that the sugar stereochemistry directs the network of hydrogen bonds between and within the long-chain molecules.
The researchers concluded that both polymers have high optical clarity, exceptional mechanical strength and extensibility, but the isosorbide-based polymer has better toughness, due to its higher elasticity.
Duke University professor Matthew Becker noted that most bio-sourced plastics lack the mechanical properties needed to compete in commercial applications and lose nearly all of their mechanical properties when reprocessed. “The materials outlined in this paper change that paradigm,” he said.
A joint patent application has been filed by University of Birmingham Enterprise and Duke University, covering both the polymers, and the method of making them. The researchers are now looking for industrial partners who are interested in licensing the technology.
Sugar-Based Polymers with Stereochemistry-Dependent 2 Degradability and Mechanical Properties, Journal of the American Chemical Society, https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.1c10278