FDCA bio-based copolyester PBFA: synthesis, properties, and fluorescence regulation

Abstract

The deteriorating natural environment and the depletion of non-renewable resources have underscored the need for bio-based materials as a cornerstone for the sustainable future of the plastics industry. 2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is increasingly regarded as an ideal bio-based alternative to terephthalic acid (TPA), owing to its sustainability and favorable properties for polymer synthesis. In this study, PBFA copolyesters with varying FDCA content were synthesized by a one-pot, two-step method. The raw materials included dimethyl furandicarboxylate, butanediol, and an aliphatic linear dibasic acid. The synthesized copolyesters exhibited exceptional mechanical properties, with a tensile strength of up to 40 MPa, and an elongation at break reaching 1600%. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the thermal decomposition temperature of the copolymers exceeded 340 °C, indicating their suitability for general industrial processing requirements. In addition, an intriguing feature of the PBFA copolyesters was their photoluminescence, both in bulk form and solution state, which displayed clustering-triggered emission (CTE) characteristics. By adjusting the copolymerization ratio of FDCA, it was possible to finely tune the emission intensity at fixed wavelengths. The positive influence of crystallization on the luminescent properties of these atypical polymers was confirmed, providing valuable insights for the further molecular design of fluorescent materials. PBFA is a truly sustainable material based on a fully industrialized, bio-based platform.