Degradable Thermosets from Bio-derived Monomers

Background

Crosslinked polymers (or thermosets) constitute 15-20% of all polymers produced. While crosslinking imbues thermosets with robust thermal and mechanical properties suitable for high-demand applications, they also render materials resistant to degradation and recycling. The 60 million tons of petroleum-based thermosets generated annually are discarded in landfills or, more rarely, combusted for energy, as there are no efficient methods for chemical or mechanical reprocessing. As such, there is a great need for easily recyclable thermoset materials which retain the ideal thermal and mechanical properties of current commodity plastics.

Technology Overview

These proprietary thermosets are derived from commercially available, bio-sourced monomers such as DHF (2,3-dihydrofuran, which can be sustainably sourced from a bioalcohol). They are produced in a single reaction vessel, without purification steps between polymerization reactions. This method allows for temporal and spatial control of polymerization under ambient conditions. Once the thermosets have been used, they are depolymerizable via heat, acid hydrolysis, and/or oxidation.

Because a wide range of monomers and/or crosslinkers can be utilized to produce these thermosets, they can be used in a wide range of applications, including: soft, flexible materials (gaskets, packaging, tubing) and stiff, tough materials (containers). Notably, the synthesized thermosets are optically clear.

A presentation which contains additional information about this technology and related work from Cornell researchers is available on request.

Stage of Development

Technology Readiness Level (TRL): 3-4. The technology has been validated in the lab with multiple monomer types and with different depolymerization conditions .

Benefits

• Commercially available, bio-derived monomers can be utilized
• Applicable to wide range of monomers and catalysts
• Single reaction vessel, without purification between polymerizations
• Depolymerizable using multiple methods (heat, acid hydrolysis, oxidation)
• Optically clear thermoset materials

Applications

• Thermoset materials, including:
  • Soft, flexible, recyclable materials: gaskets, packaging, tubing
  • Stiff, tough, recyclable materials: containers, barriers
• These applications can be in medical devices, industrial coatings, adhesives, 3D printing, etc.

Opportunity

Cornell University is seeking a licensee or partnership(s) for additional development of this and related technology(ies) (for example, a sponsored research agreement with the lab).