Work

Additive-Enhanced PAX Polyesters for Industrial Processing and Increased Longevity

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Biobased and degradable polyesters with high material performance are essential for short-term applications like packaging. However, enhancing degradability often leads to challenges such as instability during high-shear melt processing and premature degradation. Previously, we introduced a novel class of degradable polyesters, poly(alkylene xylosediglyoxylates) (PAX), which combine strength, ductility, thermal stability, and low gas permeability. However, PAX’s hydrophilicity and limited hydrolysis resistance cause significant degradation during air-exposed high-shear extrusion and short product lifetimes in warm water. In this study, we scaled up the synthesis of a key PAX polyester and addressed these challenges using extrusion-based additive engineering with a food-grade molecular weight chain extender (styrene-acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate copolymer) and an antihydrolysis agent (bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)carbodiimide). Adding 0.5 wt % of the chain extender improved molecular weight retention, thermomechanical properties, extrusion melt-strength, and processability. Additionally, the antihydrolysis agent doubled the material’s resistance to water-induced degradation. These strategies enable the production of PAX resin under industrial conditions, retaining the virgin material’s properties while extending and tuning its lifetime in water. This work demonstrates how additives can enhance the performance of new degradable polymers.

Source: ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering

DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c08640

Authors: Lorenz P. Manker, Maxime A. Hedou, Roger Marti, Michael P. Shaver, Jeremy S. Luterbacher

Institutions: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, School of Engineering and Architecture of Fribourg, University of Manchester, Henry Royce Institute

Language: English

Topic: biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties

Subfield: Biomaterials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: green

Funders: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, H2020 European Research Council, H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, NCCR Catalysis