Our latest paper on poly(ester-amides) with the title
was just published in Polymer Chemistry (IF 5.582). This work was performed in collaboration with Dr Tobias Robert from the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research in Braunschweig, Germany. It is part of our continuous work on poly(ester-amides) which has already been published (Paper: A Facile Method to Synthesize Semicrystalline Poly(ester amide)s from 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid, 1,10-Decanediol, and Crystallizable Amido Diols).
In order to expand the possible applications of furan-based polymers though, the exploration of other polymeric classes, besides polyesters, is of high interest. In this respect, polyamides (PA)s and poly(ester amide)s (PEA)s are promising classes of polymers suitable for applications where superior thermal and mechanical properties are required.
Abstract
In this work, novel polyester amides (PEAs) based on renewable poly(propylene furanoate) (PPF) were prepared via traditional melt polycondensation utilizing a preformed symmetric amido diol (AD) containing two internal amide bonds. Owing to this innovative synthetic strategy, enhanced crystallization, both in terms of quantity and rate, was observed compared to neat PPF, which is characterized by slow crystallization kinetics. Moreover, the intramolecular hydrogen bonding usually observed in furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA)-based polyamides, that results in the formation of low-molecular weight materials, was circumvented and copolymers of random structure and higher molecular weight were obtained. Due to the AD unit and the ensuing suppression of intramolecular hydrogen bonds, chain mobility (diffusion) is improved, leading in turn to enhanced crystallization. The crystallinity and crystal structure of PEAs were assessed via the combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and polarized optical microscopy (POM). Furthermore, thermal degradation of the furan-based PEAs was thoroughly investigated for the first time, employing thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) kinetic modeling and Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectroscopy (Py-GC/MS). Finally, the complex molecular dynamics of PEAs was studied employing broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS). This study shows that PEAs have the potential to further enlarge the properties and applications of polyesters derived from FDCA.
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This publication is based upon work from COST Action FUR4Sustain, CA18220, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).