Terephthalic Acid Copolyesters Containing Tetramethylcyclobutanediol for High-Performance Plastics

Samarthya Bhagia; Kamlesh Bornani; Soydan Ozcan; Arthur J Ragauskas

doi:10.1002/open.202100171

Terephthalic Acid Copolyesters Containing Tetramethylcyclobutanediol for High-Performance Plastics

ChemistryOpen. 2021 Aug;10(8):830-841. doi: 10.1002/open.202100171.

Authors

Samarthya Bhagia¹, Kamlesh Bornani², Soydan Ozcan³, Arthur J Ragauskas^{4

5

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Affiliations

¹ Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA.
² Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA.
³ Manufacturing Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee37831, USA.
⁴ Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.
⁵ Joint Institute of Biological Sciences, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA.
⁶ Center for Renewable Carbon, Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.

Abstract

There is a need for high-performance applications for terephthalic acid (TPA) polyesters with high heat resistance, impact toughness, and optical clarity. Bisphenol A (BPA) based polycarbonates and polyarylates have such properties, but BPA is an endocrine disruptor. Therefore, new TPA polyesters that are less hazardous to health and the environment are becoming popular. Tetramethylcyclobutanediol (TMCD) is a difunctional monomer that can be polymerized with TPA and other diols to yield copolyesters with superior properties to conventional TPA polyesters. It has a cyclobutyl ring that makes it more rigid than cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM) and EG. Thus, TMCD containing TPA copolyesters can have high heat resistance and impact strength. TPA can be made from abundantly available upcycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Therefore, this review discusses the synthesis of monomers and copolyesters, the impact of diol composition on material properties, molecular weight, effects of photodegradation, health safety, and substitution of cyclobutane diols for future polyesters.

Keywords: copolyesters; cyclohexanedimethanol; ethylene glycol; plastic recycling; polyester; terephthalic acid; tetramethylcyclobutanediol.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Abstract

Publication types

Grants and funding