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Thermoresponsive polymers from recycled PLA: a sustainable innovation
Researchers have developed a new method for converting polylactide (PLA) waste into thermoresponsive polymers. The monomers obtained from PLA bags could pave the way for new methods of producing sustainable coatings and materials.
The increasing demand for sustainable materials has greatly increased research into bio-based polymers in recent years. A research team has now presented a promising method for converting polylactide (PLA) waste into functional polymers.
Lactamide-based acrylic monomers were synthesised by chemical depolymerisation of commercial PLA bags. These monomers were then processed into various copolymers using a Cu(II)Br₂/Me₆TREN-catalysed UV polymerisation. Particularly noteworthy: the water solubility of the resulting polymers could be adjusted by targeted modification of the amides.
Event Tip: Bio-based Coatings
In the EC Short Course “Bio-based Coatings” on May 6.-7., 2025, you will learn about plant-based raw materials in coatings, their production, and the challenges of replacing fossil-based materials. The course provides insights into sustainable alternatives and their impact on the industry
Sustainable alternative with versatile applications
The newly developed polymers not only exhibit low ecotoxicity, but also open up new possibilities for bio-based functional coatings. Thanks to their thermoresponsive properties, they can potentially be used in areas such as temperature-dependent coating systems or intelligent packaging materials.
One particular innovation of the study lies in the creation of polymers with single- or two-phase separation behaviour, an area of biobased polymer research that has been little researched to date. This property could be used in the future for controlled release of active ingredients or adaptive surface coatings.
Source: Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, Volume 225, Issue 6
