Non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs) and polyureas are rapidly growing in their relevance as techniques approach, and even surpass, the properties of isocyanate-based polyurethanes. One such example is the addition of oligomeric diamines with a cyclic carbonate monoester to provide a versatile route towards high molecular weight polyurethanes. Electrospun, NIPUs demonstrated reduced mechanical properties while increasing the biocompatibility compared to annealed film counterparts. Utilizing bio-derived monomers, such as urea in place of isocyanates allows for the synthesis of elastomers with mechanical properties that approach or exceed those of isocyanate-derived polymers. Furthermore, the incorporation of plant-oil-based polyols and esters decreases dependency on petroleum-based monomers for polyurethane synthesis. Another cyclic-carbonate route to NIPUs employs epoxydized soybean oil, which can produce a cyclocarbonated monomer through a reaction with CO2. Polyurethane synthesis follows through a reaction between the monomer and a diamine, while foam production comes from heating the polymer matrix to the Tm and impregnating it with scCO2.&lt;span style="font-size:10.8333px"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Depolymerization and degradation of polyurethane compounds is achieved either by engineering degradable structural groups into the backbone, or through tailored enzymatic degradation. Acid catalyzed hydrolytic degradation involves no oxidative pathways, allowing recovery of the amine and alcohol groups for further reactions. Current work focuses on using carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) to functionalize the amine and alcohol groups to create a recycled polyurethane.

Non-isocyanate polyurethanes and polyureas for elastomers and foams: Opportunities for green chemistry and depolymerization

ACS Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting

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