Millions of tons of polyurethanes (PU) are produced every day. The widespread commercial success of PUs is in large part because of their low cost, facile synthesis, and attractive physical properties. Thus, a wide range of polyols and polyisocyanates undergo polyaddition polymerization to produce elastomers, foams, adhesives, and coatings for a myriad of applications. Unfortunately once the product lifespan is complete, the material enters the waste stream. This talk will focus on new chemistries that allow PUs to be produced in conventional ways and with the expected robust properties, but to undergo extremely mild degradation when treated with the right reagents. Importantly, the degradation products can be repurposed to give a second life to a large fraction of the waste material. The application of this chemistry to other polymeric materials will be discussed.

New chemistries for degrading and upcycling polyurethanes with minimal energy input

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.