Poly (ethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the top four of polymers in world-wide polymer production based on its combination of physical properties and processing characteristics. PET possesses outstanding gas barrier properties, especially in the biaxially oriented state. The barrier properties in combination with excellent transparency, low color, and low organoleptics are important properties for food packaging applications. Likewise, drawn PET fibers have high strength and excellent melt spinning properties that propelled its applications as a fiber. PET also has the highest polymer recycle rate. Over the years considerable research was invested in new monomers to elevate barrier and/or thermal properties of PET. Recently a strong focus is on biosourced monomers with considerable efforts on furan dicarboxylic acid as a biosourced substitute for terephthalic acid that can lead to a higher barrier biosourced polyester (PEF) for food packaging. This lecture will describe our recent research on a new biosourced monomer, dimethyl (2,2’-bifuran)-5,5-dicarboxylate which yields poly (ethylene 2,2’-bifuran-5,5’-dicarboxylate) (PEBF) which we observed has enhanced thermal properties as well as enhanced barrier properties compared to PET and PEF.

Poly (ethylene-2,2’-bifuran-5,5’-dicarboxylate): Biosourced high performance polyester

2019 Fall National Meeting

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