abstract
Motivated by the general concern about sustainability and environmental issues, an intense search for renewable-based polymers has grown exponentially in recent years. This search definitely spotlighted polyesters derived from 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, among other polymers, as some of the most promising, especially due to the resemblance of this renewable monomer to the well-known petroleum-based terephthalic acid, as well as owing to the possibility of preparing innovative materials. The huge number of recent papers and patents about this family of polymers explore aspects as diverse as synthesis with other renewable-based monomers, leading to the preparation of materials with enhanced thermo-mechanical, biodegradability and liquid crystalline properties, among other features. Additional aspects pursued in such studies are innovation in the synthetic approaches or their optimisation, as well as the development of applications for everyday-life objects for example packaging materials, especially bottles, textiles, coating, and toners, among many other uses. Despite this intense activity, little has been reviewed recently about this unique family of polyesters or derived polymers, as the only reviews on the subject date back to the last century. In this perspective, the present review aims at contributing to filling this literature gap, covering recent aspects related with challenges in developing polyesters, polyamides, or other polymers from 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and their precursors. Emphasis is placed on monomer synthesis, polymerisation reactions, catalysts and applications.
keywords
BUTYLENE FURANDICARBOXYLATE) COPOLYESTERS; RENEWABLE RESOURCES; SUCCINIC ACID; POLY(BUTYLENE 2,5-FURANDICARBOXYLATE); THERMOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES; CRYSTALLIZATION KINETICS; THERMOTROPIC POLYESTERS; BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS; MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES; ALIPHATIC POLYESTERS
subject category
Polymer Science
authors
Sousa, AF; Vilela, C; Fonseca, AC; Matos, M; Freire, CSR; Gruter, GJM; Coelhob, JFJ; Silvestre, AJD
our authors
Andreia Fernandes de Sousa
Principal Researcher
Armando Jorge Domingues Silvestre
Full professor
Carla Vilela
Assistant Professor
Carmen Sofia da Rocha Freire Barros
Coordinating Researcher
Marina Matos
Junior Researcheracknowledgements
The authors wish to thank FCT (Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia) and POPH/FSE for the postdoctoral grants to A.F.S. (SFRH/BPD/73383/2010), C.V. (SFRH/BPD/84168/2012) and A.C.F. (SFRH/BPD/99982/2014); a research grant to C.S.R.F. under the program 'Investigador FCT 2012'; and a doctoral grant to M.M. (PD/BD/52501/2014). FCT is also gratefully acknowledged for Associate Laboratory CICECO funding (FCT UID/CTM/50011/2013).