Sustainable and recyclable super engineering thermoplastic from biorenewable monomer

Environmental and health concerns force the search for sustainable super engineering plastics (SEPs) that utilise bio-derived cyclic monomers, e.g. isosorbide instead of restricted petrochemicals. However, previously reported bio-derived thermosets or thermoplastics rarely offer thermal/mechanical properties, scalability, or recycling that match those of petrochemical SEPs. Here we use a phase transfer catalyst to synthesise an isosorbide-based polymer with a high molecular weight >100 kg mol−1, which is reproducible at a 1-kg-scale production. It is transparent and solvent/melt-processible for recycling, with a glass transition temperature of 212 °C, a tensile strength of 78 MPa, and a thermal expansion coefficient of 23.8 ppm K−1. Such a performance combination has not been reported before for bio-based thermoplastics, petrochemical SEPs, or thermosets. Interestingly, quantum chemical simulations show the alicyclic bicyclic ring structure of isosorbide imposes stronger geometric restraint to polymer chain than the aromatic group of bisphenol-A.11Ysciescopu

Complexaction and coacervation of like-charged polyelectrolytes: a new mussel-inspired underwater adehesion mechanism

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Metal dependent interactions of mussel adhesive protein

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Squid beak and hydroid perisarc inspired chitin.chitosan composite

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Cation-π Interactions in Marine Adhesive System

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Three key insights for successful underwater adhesion

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Contribution of Cation–Pi Interaction to Underwater Adhesion in Mussel

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Mussel inspired underwater adhesive mechanism: Like charged complex coacervate from cation-π interaction

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Sweet bionic interaface of Atrina pectinata

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