Aromatic acetal polyols: progress for high-performance and recyclable polyurethanes

Polyurethanes (PUs) are essential in numerous industries due to their versatility and high mechanical strength. However, the limited availability of high-performance aromatic polyols and the recycling of polymers continue to pose challenges. A recent study now presents an innovative solution: novel aromatic acetal-containing polyols that not only improve the performance of PUs but also enable a closed circular economy.

Solution through sustainable polyol synthesis

The researchers developed three different aromatic acetal polyols by a solvent-free polycondensation of aldehydes and diols using acidic heterogeneous catalysts. This method enables the efficient introduction of aromatic structures into polyols, which is difficult to achieve with conventional methods. The resulting polyols have an optimised viscosity and can be processed without difficulty.

Significant improvements in the mechanical properties were achieved by targeted modification of the polyol structure. The PUs produced from these polyols exhibited high thermal stability and excellent water resistance under neutral conditions.

EC Short Course: Waterborne high performance coatings

On March 18, 2025 the EC Short Course on waterborne high-performance coatings will take place online. Waterborne systems are a key strategy for sustainable products with low VOC content, but their development comes with challenges. This course will cover the specific requirements for raw materials and formulations to achieve stable, defect-free coatings. A particular focus will be on the interactions between components that determine the success or failure of such systems.

Closed material cycle through transacetalisation

Another decisive advantage of the new polyurethane generation is their recyclability. The polymers can be efficiently depolymerised by targeted transacetalisation under mildly acidic conditions. This results in high yields of high-purity monomers that can be reused to produce new polyols.

This development represents a significant advance, as previous recycling approaches for polyurethanes are often inefficient or technically challenging. The new method could help to make the material cycle for high-performance polyurethanes more sustainable and expand future applications in a wide range of industries.

Source: Polymer Chemistry, Issue 11, 2025

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