Polyethylene Furandicarboxylate
“Polyethylene furandicarboxylate is known as a plant-derived resin. The merit of polyethylene furandicarboxylate is to have excellent heat resistance compared with polylactic acid.” [Tanaka, US Patent 7,863,356 (1/4/2011)]
“2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is a promising bio-based platform chemical that may serve as a ‘green’ substitute for terephthalate in polyesters. Recently, a novel HMF/furfural oxidoreductase from Cupriavidus basilensis HMF14 was identified that converts 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) into FDCA. The hmfH gene encoding this oxidoreductase was introduced into Pseudomonas putida S12 and the resulting whole-cell biocatalyst was employed to produce FDCA from HMF. In fed-batch experiments using glycerol as the carbon source, 30.1 g l−1 of FDCA was produced from HMF at a yield of 97%. FDCA was recovered from the culture broth as a 99.4% pure dry powder, at 76% recovery using acid precipitation and subsequent tetrahydrofuran extraction.” [Koopman et al, Bioresource Technology, 101, #16, 6291-6296 (2010)]
Natural Polyesters
Natural (Renewable) Polymers
Polyesters
Polymers /Resins
Sustainable /Renewable Materials
Recent US Patents
1/4/2011
7,863,356
Resin composition and molded article
Yanaka of Canon, Japan has developed a polyethylene furandicarboxylate having high crystallization rate and excellent heat resistance, and a molded article molded with the resin composition. The resin composition contains polyethylene furandicarboxylate and pyrimidine thiol. Polyethylene furandicarboxylate is known as a plant-derived resin. The merit of polyethylene furandicarboxylate is to have excellent heat resistance compared with polylactic acid. Pyrimidine thiol, is an effective nucleating agent for this polymer. (RDC 7/18/2011).
Recent Journal Articles
Synthesis and characterization of poly(2,5-furan dicarboxylate)s based on a variety of diols
( 3759–3768)Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 49 #17 (2011)
Gomes et al of the University of Aveiro, Portugal, synthesized polyesters from renewable resources based on 2,5-dicarboxylic acid and several diols and characterized using different polycondensation techniques. The aliphatic diols were sufficiently volatile to allow the use of polytransesterifications, which gave high-molecular weight semicrystalline materials with good thermal stability. In particular, the polyester based on ethylene glycol displayed properties comparable with those of its aromatic counterpart, poly(ethylene terephthalate), namely, the most important industrial polyester. The use of isosorbide gave rise to amorphous polymers with very stiff chains and hence a high glass transition temperature and an enhanced thermal stability. The interfacial polycondensation between the acid dichloride and hydroquinone produced a semicrystalline material with features similar to those of entirely aromatic polyesters, characterized essentially by the absence of melting and poor solubility, both associated with their remarkable chain rigidity. The replacement of hydroquinone with the corresponding benzylic diol was sufficient to provide a more tractable polyester. This study provided ample evidence in favor of the exploitation of furan monomers as renewable alternatives to fossil-based aromatic homologs. (RDC 7/27/2011)