Scientists create a new sustainable sugar-based polymer

Researchers from the University of Birmingham in the UK and Duke University in the US have invented a new family of degradable polymers of renewable origin that have properties similar to ordinary plastics
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Using glycosyl isoprene and isopentane as building blocks, scientists have created two new polymers, one that is stretchable like rubber and the other that is tough but malleable like most commercial plastics of
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The two sugar alcohols differ only in their stereochemistry or three-dimensional structure, but this makes them quite different in physical properties
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Isoprene-based polymers exhibit hardness and ductility similar to ordinary plastics, and similar strengths to advanced engineering plastics such as PA6
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The isoprene-based material has similar strength and toughness, but also shows high elasticity, recovering its shape after deformation
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Both materials retain their mechanical properties after shredding and thermal processing, a common method of mechanically recycling plastics
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"Our findings truly demonstrate how stereochemistry can be a central theme for designing sustainable materials with truly unprecedented mechanical properties," noted Duke professor Dr.
Matthew Becker
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Computational models simulate how polymer chains pack and interact to produce different polymer properties
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By creating copolymers containing isoprene and isoacrylamide units, the researchers found that they could independently control mechanical properties and degradation rates
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Thus, the degradability of polymers can be independently tuned for specific uses without significantly changing the properties of the material
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Professor Andrew Dove, who led the Birmingham research team, said the study showed the viability of sustainable plastics
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More work needs to be done to reduce costs and study the potential impact of these materials on the environment, but "these materials have the potential to replace plastics of petrochemical origin that do not readily degrade in the environment," he said
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The scientists also noted that the two polymers can be mixed without any complicated compatibility requirements (possibly because the two materials are chemically very similar) and produce macroscopically homogeneous films
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Dr Josh Worch, from the University of Birmingham's School of Chemistry, who co-authored the study, said this provided a clear advantage for recycling, which often requires the disposal of mixed feeds
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Dr Connor Stubbs, also from Birmingham's School of Chemistry, added: "Gasoline-based plastics have been studied for decades, so catching up with them is a huge challenge
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We can use the unique structures and shapes that biology has to offer to create more Good plastics that have the same broad range of properties that commercial plastics can offer today
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A joint patent application has been filed by the University of Birmingham's Enterprise Division and Duke University
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The researchers are now looking for industrial partners interested in applying the technology
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