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Chemistry

Polymer

The University of Maine

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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Functionalized 𝜹-Hexalactones (Fdhls): Bio-Derivable Monomers To Synthesize Renewable Polyester Thermoplastics, Atik Faysal Mar 2022

Functionalized 𝜹-Hexalactones (Fdhls): Bio-Derivable Monomers To Synthesize Renewable Polyester Thermoplastics, Atik Faysal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Most thermoplastics are made from limited fossil-fuel sources and these plastics have very deleterious impacts on the environment. Finding a renewable source to synthesize new thermoplastic polymers with tunable properties like biodegradability, heat resistance, and moisture resistance are ongoing research interests. Lignocellulosic biomass is a promising renewable feedstock for biobased monomers and polymers production. In this work, functionalized 𝛿-hexalactone (FDHL) monomers are hypothesized to be synthesizable from lignocellulosic sourced hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) and lignin-derived pendant groups, generating a variety of aliphatic polyesters and potentially overcome current polymer challenges. Achieving a higher glass transition temperature (Tg) is one of …


Creating Renewable Tunable Polymers From Hydroxymethylfurfural, Meredith C. Allen Aug 2017

Creating Renewable Tunable Polymers From Hydroxymethylfurfural, Meredith C. Allen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The research here deals with the conversion of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) into a tunable polymer. HMF is a known derivative that can be acquired from biomass via hydrolysis of cellulose followed by isomerization and finally selective dehydration. The process considered here is being developed to create tunable polymers from HMF and involves several different steps, three of which are covered here. The first step, an etherification, is the reaction of HMF with an alcohol. This step is significant because in this step the R-group from the alcohol is added to HMF and the branching portion formed is carried over to the …