Commercial application of bisphenol-A polycarbonate (BPA-PC) is very broad because of its outstanding toughness, transparency, heat resistance, thermal oxidative stability, and electrical properties. In 2007, among the BPA-PC produced, about 90% was made by the phosgene route, which was the first commercialized PC production method. This process can cause significant environmental impact, including production of large amount of hazardous waste, greenhouse gas emission, and use of toxic reactant. All of these are significant challenges to the demand of green chemistry manufacture, which requires that the use and generation of hazardous substances must be minimized during the design and production process.In this research, PC nanocomposite was synthesized through in-situ polymerization using 2 types of monomers, petroleum based BPA, and bio-derived isosorbide. Alumina nanowhiskers and multi-walled carbon nanotubes were chosen as the nanofillers. PC covalently bonded on the surface of alumina nanowhiskers surface was proved by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Transesterification polymerization kinetics of BPA-PC, isosorbide PC, and isosorbide/BPA copolymer with different monomer ratios were studied at 165�C and 190�C and 210�C. Reaction rate constant and equilibrium constant were calculated using data required by NMR end group analysis. For isosorbide/BPA copolymer, the reaction rate constant increases as the ratio of isosorbide increase. The presence of nanowhiskers was proven to have no major influence on the reaction rate. Improved thermal properties of PC nanocomposite were observed by increasing nanofiller loading in certain range. Solid film was solution casted using isosorbide/BPA copolymer with a 5%BPA ratio. The competitive properties of isosorbide/BPA copolymer make isosorbide a promising sustainable alternate for BPA.

Sustainable polycarbonate nanocomposites: Impact of production method and composition

248th National Meeting (2014)

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