Poly(butylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate-ε-caprolactone): A new bio-based elastomer with high strength and biodegradability

Abstract

A new bio-based elastomer, poly(butylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate-ε-caprolactone) (PBFCL), has been synthesized from 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, 1,4-butanediol, and ε-caprolactone successfully for the first time. The obtained copolyester was characterized in terms of chemical structure, thermal and mechanical properties, and enzymatic degradability. In PBFCL elastomer, butylene-2,5-furandiacrboxylate units (hard segments) crystallize to serve as physical crosslinks while ε-caprolactone polyester diol (soft segments) provide flexibility. PBFCL is a multi-blocked copolyester with randomly distributed rigid and soft segments. It possesses original feature of high strength and biodegradability stemming from the uses of aromatic and aliphatic monomers respectively. An important aspect of this new furanic-aliphatic polyester is its tailor-made properties simply achieved by changing the content of hard or soft segments. Typically, PBFCL-40 of optimal composition has Young’s modulus as low as 15.4 MPa, tensile strength as high 24.8 MPa, and elongation as long as 885%.

Keywords

• Biodegradable polymers
• Elastomers
• Bio-based polymers
• Mechanical properties
• Thermal properties