Poly(1,4-butylene-co-1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) copolyester: Potential bio-based engineering plastic

Poly(1,4-butylene-co-1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PBCFs) was synthesized from biobased 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), 1,4-butanediol (BDO) and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM). The GPC showed that the number average molecular weight (M-n) of PBCFs were in the range of 38400-44200 g/mol and the average molecular weight (M-w) varied from 83,000 to 94,800 g/mol with the polydispersity index of 2.22-2.33. The chemical structures, compositions and sequence distributions of PBCFs were confirmed by H-1 NMR and C-13 NMR. Their thermal properties and crystallization behavior were investigated by Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC). Results showed that the glass transition temperature (T-g) and melting temperature (T-m) of poly(butylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PBF) were increased from 38 and 171.8 degrees C to 65.8 and 211.7 degrees C for PBCF-68, respectively. Furthermore, the strength and modulus were increased from 44 and 950 MPa for PBF to 69 and 1360 MPa for PBCF-68 with the mole percentage of CHDM units of 68% in diol units. PBCFs demonstrated much better thermo-mechanical properties when compared with those of PBF, which might be used as the bio-based engineering plastic or excellent packaging materials with high transparency and good gas barrier properties.

Automated summary

Poly(1,4-butylene-co-1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PBCFs) were synthesized from biobased 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), 1,4-butanediol (BDO) and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM). The PBCFs demonstrated improved thermal and mechanical properties compared to PBF, making them suitable for bio-based engineering plastics or packaging materials with high transparency and good gas barrier properties.