Issue 30, 2020

Poly(hydroxy acids) derived from the self-condensation of hydroxy acids: from polymerization to end-of-life options

Abstract

Poly(hydroxy acids) have been gaining increasing attention in the search for novel sustainable materials to replace petrochemical polymers in packaging applications. Poly(hydroxy acids) are polyesters that are obtained using hydroxy acids as the starting materials, which are derived from renewable resources and biowaste. These biopolymers have attracted a lot of attention since some of them will be in the near future competitive in price to polyolefins, show excellent mechanical and barrier properties, and can be potentially recycled by physical and chemical routes. Most of the current poly(hydroxy acids) are mainly prepared by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic monomers derived from hydroxy acids. However, their direct polymerization has received much less attention, while one of the advantages of hydroxy acids resides in the presence of an electrophile and a nucleophile in a single molecule that makes them ideal A–B type monomers for self-condensation. This review focuses on the preparation of poly(hydroxy acids) by the self-condensation polymerization of hydroxy acids. Moreover, their end-of-life options are also evaluated considering not only their biodegradability but also their potential to be chemically recycled.

Graphical abstract: Poly(hydroxy acids) derived from the self-condensation of hydroxy acids: from polymerization to end-of-life options

Associated articles

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
17 Jan 2020
Accepted
03 Apr 2020
First published
03 Apr 2020

Polym. Chem., 2020,11, 4861-4874

Poly(hydroxy acids) derived from the self-condensation of hydroxy acids: from polymerization to end-of-life options

E. Gabirondo, A. Sangroniz, A. Etxeberria, S. Torres-Giner and H. Sardon, Polym. Chem., 2020, 11, 4861 DOI: 10.1039/D0PY00088D

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