Novel Biomass-Based Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application

A wide range of polymers were prepared from biomass-derivatives, using different polymerization mechanisms. Well-defined, fully hydroxy-functional polyesters based on aliphatic diols were synthesized, using either conventional metal-based catalysts or the organic superbase 1,5,7-triazabicyclododecene (TBD). Unsaturated polyesters were also made, offering additional functionality to these biobased resins. Metal-catalyzed or enzymatic ring-opening polymerization of macrolactones afford novel, renewable materials with good mechanical properties similar to those of polyethylene. In addition to polyesters, aliphatic polycarbonates based on 1,4:3,6-dianhydrohexitols (DAH) were prepared, which proved very suitable for application in thermosetting coating systems. Polyamides from sebacic acid, 1,4-diaminobutane and diaminoisoidide are very interesting polymers, in which the diaminoisoidide residues cocrystallize in the polyamide 4.10 matrix. Another type of polymers studied were the polyurethanes. Thermoplastic polyurethanes and polyureas from biomass can be effectively synthesized through either isocyanate-based or isocyanate-free strategies. Also, poly(ester/carbonate urethane) networks from renewable polymer resins are very promising systems for coating