Renewable polyamides and polyurethanes derived from limonene

Abstract

The addition of cysteamine hydrochloride to (R)-(+)- and (S)-(−)-limonene is described as a versatile and effective way to obtain new amine functionalized renewable monomers for polyamide and polyurethane synthesis. Thus, through different combinations, limonene, fatty acid, as well as Nylon 6,6 copolymers were prepared and their structure–thermal property relationships were studied. GPC and DSC characterization revealed that these monomers can be used to synthesize polyamides with good and adjustable thermal properties. Moreover, the synthesized diamines have successfully been transformed into dicarbamates via a phosgene-free route and their behaviour in polycondensation was studied. A number of linear renewable polyurethanes, from amorphous to semi-crystalline, were thus obtained via an isocyanate-free route, demonstrating new potential uses for these renewable resources. Also these polyurethanes were characterized in detail and their thermal properties were studied.