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Krajovic DM, Kumler MS, Hillmyer MA. PLA Block Polymers: Versatile Materials for a Sustainable Future. Biomacromolecules 2025; 26:2761-2783. [PMID: 40193281 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2025]
Abstract
Block polymers present an almost endless realm of possibilities to develop functional materials for myriad applications. The established self-assembly of block polymers allows researchers to access properties that are inaccessible in homopolymers. However, there is a need to develop more sustainable options than the current commodity block polymers. Derived from renewable resources and industrially compostable, poly(lactide) (PLA) is at the forefront of technological advancements in sustainable block polymers. Its material properties including high stiffness, relatively high glass transition temperature, and semicrystallinity in isotactic versions lend themselves to many applications, and its ease of synthesis provides a well-established platform for developing high-performance materials. This Perspective highlights recent advancements associated with PLA-containing block polymers, including their syntheses, mesostructural considerations, and mechanical properties, from resilient elastomers to tough plastics. We also give our perspective on the subfield of PLA block polymers, our outlook on the future, and our assessment of exciting developments yet to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Krajovic
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Margaret S Kumler
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Marc A Hillmyer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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2
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Katsuhara S, Sunagawa N, Igarashi K, Takeuchi Y, Takahashi K, Yamamoto T, Li F, Tajima K, Isono T, Satoh T. Effect of degree of substitution on the microphase separation and mechanical properties of cellooligosaccharide acetate-based elastomers. Carbohydr Polym 2023; 316:120976. [PMID: 37321706 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.120976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) have long been used in a wide range of industries. However, most existing TPEs are petroleum-derived polymers. To realize environmentally benign alternatives to conventional TPEs, cellulose acetate is a promising TPE hard segment because of its sufficient mechanical properties, availability from renewable sources, and biodegradability in natural environments. Because the degree of substitution (DS) of cellulose acetate governs a range of physical properties, it is a useful parameter for designing novel cellulose acetate-based TPEs. In this study, we synthesized cellulose acetate-based ABA-type triblock copolymers (AcCelx-b-PDL-b-AcCelx) containing a celloologosaccharide acetate hard A segment (AcCelx, where x is the DS; x = 3.0, 2.6, and 2.3) and a poly(δ-decanolactone) (PDL) soft B segment. Small-angle X-ray scattering showed that decreasing the DS of AcCelx-b-PDL-b-AcCelx resulted in the formation of a more ordered microphase-separated structure. Owing to the microphase separation of the hard cellulosic and soft PDL segments, all the AcCelx-b-PDL-b-AcCelx samples exhibited elastomer-like properties. Moreover, the decrease in DS improved toughness and suppressed stress relaxation. Furthermore, preliminary biodegradation tests in an aqueous environment revealed that the decrease in DS endowed AcCelx-b-PDL-b-AcCelx with greater biodegradability potential. This work demonstrates the usefulness of cellulose acetate-based TPEs as next-generation sustainable materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Katsuhara
- Graduate School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan
| | - Naoki Sunagawa
- Department of Biomaterial Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Kiyohiko Igarashi
- Department of Biomaterial Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan; VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., VTT FI-02044, Finland
| | - Yutaka Takeuchi
- Noto Center for Fisheries Science and Technology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Noto-cho, Ishikawa 927-0552, Japan
| | - Kenji Takahashi
- Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Takuya Yamamoto
- Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan
| | - Feng Li
- Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan
| | - Kenji Tajima
- Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan.
| | - Takuya Isono
- Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan.
| | - Toshifumi Satoh
- Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan.
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Shi K, Liu G, Sun H, Weng Y. Polylactic Acid/Lignin Composites: A Review. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:2807. [PMID: 37447453 DOI: 10.3390/polym15132807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
With the gradual depletion of petroleum resources and the increasing global awareness of environmental protection, biodegradable plastics are receiving more and more attention as a green substitute for traditional petroleum-based plastics. Poly (lactic acid) is considered to be the most promising biodegradable material because of its excellent biodegradability, biocompatibility, and good processability. However, the brittleness and high cost limit its application in more fields. Lignin, as the second largest renewable biopolymer in nature after cellulose, is not only rich in reserves and low in cost, but it also has an excellent UV barrier, antioxidant activity, and rigidity. The molecular structure of lignin contains a large number of functional groups, which are easy to endow with new functions by chemical modification. Currently, lignin is mostly treated as waste in industry, and the value-added utilization is insufficient. The combination of lignin and poly (lactic acid) can on the one hand solve the problems of the high cost of PLA and less efficient utilization of lignin; on the other hand, the utilization of lignocellulosic biomass in compounding with biodegradable synthetic polymers is expected to afford high-performance wholly green polymer composites. This mini-review summarizes the latest research achievements of poly (lactic acid)/lignin composites. Emphasis was put on the influence of lignin on the mechanical properties of its composite with poly (lactic acid), as well as the compatibility of the two components. Future research on these green composites is also prospected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Shi
- College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Guoshuai Liu
- College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Hui Sun
- College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Quality Evaluation Technology for Hygiene and Safety of Plastics, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Yunxuan Weng
- College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Quality Evaluation Technology for Hygiene and Safety of Plastics, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
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Wang Z, Tang P, Chen S, Xing Y, Yin C, Feng J, Jiang F. Fully biobased sustainable elastomers derived from chitin, lignin, and plant oil via grafting strategy and Schiff-base chemistry. Carbohydr Polym 2023; 305:120577. [PMID: 36737210 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.120577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
With the dramatically increased environmental problems, the rational design of sustainable polymers from renewable feedstocks opens new avenues to reduce the huge pollution impact. The major challenge for sustainable polymers is the decreased mechanical performance compared to that of petroleum-based materials. In this work, fully biobased sustainable elastomers were developed by integrating renewable chitin, lignin, and plant oil into one macromolecule, in which chitin was chosen as the rigid backbone, while a lignin-derived monomer vanillin acrylate (VA) and a plant oil-based monomer lauryl acrylate (LA) were selected as the hard and soft segments for the grafted side chains. A series of Chitin-graft-poly(vanillin acrylate-co-lauryl acrylate) (Chitin-g-P(VA-co-LA)) copolymers with varied feed ratios and chitin contents were synthesized by using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization as an effective grafting strategy. In addition, a dynamic cross-linked network was incorporated via Schiff-base reaction to improve the macroscopic behavior of such kind of chitin graft elastomers. These sustainable elastomers are mechanically strong and show excellent reprocessablity, as well as outstanding UV-blocking property. This strategy is versatile and can inspire the further development of fully biobased sustainable materials from natural resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Wang
- Biomass Molecular Engineering Center, Anhui Provincial Engineering Center for High Performance Biobased Nylons, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China
| | - Pengfei Tang
- Biomass Molecular Engineering Center, Anhui Provincial Engineering Center for High Performance Biobased Nylons, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China
| | - Shuaishuai Chen
- Biomass Molecular Engineering Center, Anhui Provincial Engineering Center for High Performance Biobased Nylons, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China
| | - Yuxian Xing
- Biomass Molecular Engineering Center, Anhui Provincial Engineering Center for High Performance Biobased Nylons, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China
| | - Chuantao Yin
- Biomass Molecular Engineering Center, Anhui Provincial Engineering Center for High Performance Biobased Nylons, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China
| | - Jiajun Feng
- Biomass Molecular Engineering Center, Anhui Provincial Engineering Center for High Performance Biobased Nylons, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China
| | - Feng Jiang
- Biomass Molecular Engineering Center, Anhui Provincial Engineering Center for High Performance Biobased Nylons, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China.
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Xu Y, Hickey RJ. Templating Polymer/Chromophore Crystallization in a Gyroid Matrix. Macromolecules 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c01722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Xu
- Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania16802, United States
| | - Robert J. Hickey
- Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania16802, United States
- Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania16802, United States
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Mujtaba M, Lipponen J, Ojanen M, Puttonen S, Vaittinen H. Trends and challenges in the development of bio-based barrier coating materials for paper/cardboard food packaging; a review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:158328. [PMID: 36037892 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Currently, petroleum-based synthetic plastics are used as a key barrier material in the paper-based packaging of several food and nonfood goods. This widespread usage of plastic as a barrier lining is not only harmful to human and marine health, but it is also polluting the ecosystem. Researchers and food manufacturers are focused on biobased alternatives because of its numerous advantages, including biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and structural flexibility. When used alone or in composites/multilayers, these biobased alternatives provide strong barrier qualities against grease, oxygen, microbes, air, and water. According to the most recent literature reports, biobased polymers for barrier coatings are having difficulty breaking into the business. Technological breakthroughs in the field of bioplastic production and application are rapidly evolving, proffering new options for academics and industry to collaborate and develop sustainable packaging solutions. Existing techniques, such as multilayer coating of nanocomposites, can be improved further by designing them in a more systematic manner to attain the best barrier qualities. Modified nanocellulose, lignin nanoparticles, and bio-polyester are among the most promising future candidates for nanocomposite-based packaging films with high barrier qualities. In this review, the state-of-art and research advancements made in biobased polymeric alternatives such as paper and board barrier coating are summarized. Finally, the existing limitations and potential future development prospects for these biobased polymers as barrier materials are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Mujtaba
- Aalto University, Bioproduct and Biosystems, 02150 Espoo, Finland; VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, P.O. Box 1000, Espoo FI-02044, Finland.
| | - Juha Lipponen
- Aalto University, Bioproduct and Biosystems, 02150 Espoo, Finland
| | - Mari Ojanen
- Kemira Oyj, Energiakatu 4, 00101 Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Henri Vaittinen
- Valmet Technologies, Wärtsilänkatu 100, 04440 Järvenpää, Finland
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Coudane J, Nottelet B, Mouton J, Garric X, Van Den Berghe H. Poly(ε-caprolactone)-Based Graft Copolymers: Synthesis Methods and Applications in the Biomedical Field: A Review. Molecules 2022; 27:7339. [PMID: 36364164 PMCID: PMC9653691 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27217339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthetic biopolymers are attractive alternatives to biobased polymers, especially because they rarely induce an immune response in a living organism. Poly ε-caprolactone (PCL) is a well-known synthetic aliphatic polyester universally used for many applications, including biomedical and environmental ones. Unlike poly lactic acid (PLA), PCL has no chiral atoms, and it is impossible to play with the stereochemistry to modify its properties. To expand the range of applications for PCL, researchers have investigated the possibility of grafting polymer chains onto the PCL backbone. As the PCL backbone is not functionalized, it must be first functionalized in order to be able to graft reactive groups onto the PCL chain. These reactive groups will then allow the grafting of new reagents and especially new polymer chains. Grafting of polymer chains is mainly carried out by "grafting from" or "grafting onto" methods. In this review we describe the main structures of the graft copolymers produced, their different synthesis methods, and their main characteristics and applications, mainly in the biomedical field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Coudane
- Department of Polymers for Health and Biomaterials, Institute of Biomolecules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247, University of Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Benjamin Nottelet
- Department of Polymers for Health and Biomaterials, Institute of Biomolecules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247, University of Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Julia Mouton
- Polymers Composites and Hybrids, IMT Mines d’Alès, 30100 Alès, France
- EPF Graduate School of Engineering, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Xavier Garric
- Department of Polymers for Health and Biomaterials, Institute of Biomolecules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247, University of Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, 34000 Montpellier, France
- Department of Pharmacy, Nîmes University Hospital, 30900 Nimes, France
| | - Hélène Van Den Berghe
- Department of Polymers for Health and Biomaterials, Institute of Biomolecules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247, University of Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, 34000 Montpellier, France
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Wang Z, Yoon S, Wang J. Breaking the Paradox between Grafting-Through and Depolymerization to Access Recyclable Graft Polymers. Macromolecules 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c01609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zeyu Wang
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, the University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Seiyoung Yoon
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, the University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Junpeng Wang
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, the University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
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9
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Tunable and recyclable polyesters from CO 2 and butadiene. Nat Chem 2022; 14:877-883. [PMID: 35760958 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-022-00969-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Carbon dioxide is inexpensive and abundant, and its prevalence as waste makes it attractive as a sustainable chemical feedstock. Although there are examples of copolymerizations of CO2 with high-energy monomers, the direct copolymerization of CO2 with olefins has not been reported. Here an alternative route to functionalizable, recyclable polyesters derived from CO2, butadiene and hydrogen via an intermediary lactone, 3-ethyl-6-vinyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one, is described. Catalytic ring-opening polymerization of the lactone by 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene yields polyesters with molar masses up to 13.6 kg mol-1 and pendent vinyl side chains that can undergo post-polymerization functionalization. The polymer has a low ceiling temperature of 138 °C, allowing for facile chemical recycling, and is inherently biodegradable under aerobic aqueous conditions (OECD-301B protocol). These results show that a well-defined polyester can be derived from CO2, olefins and hydrogen, expanding access to new polymer feedstocks that were once considered unfeasible.
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Martinez MR, Dworakowska S, Gorczyński A, Szczepaniak G, Bossa FDL, Matyjaszewski K. Kinetic comparison of isomeric oligo(ethylene oxide) (meth)acrylates: Aqueous polymerization of oligo(ethylene oxide) methyl ether methacrylate and methyl 2‐(oligo(ethylene oxide) methyl ether)acrylate macromonomers. JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pol.20220086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael R. Martinez
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Engineering Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
| | - Sylwia Dworakowska
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Engineering Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
- Department of Biotechnology and Renewable Materials, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology Cracow University of Technology Cracow Poland
| | - Adam Gorczyński
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Engineering Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
- Faculty of Chemistry Adam Mickiewicz University Poznań Poland
| | - Grzegorz Szczepaniak
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Engineering Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
| | - Ferdinando De Luca Bossa
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Engineering Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
| | - Krzysztof Matyjaszewski
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Engineering Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
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