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Performance polyamides built on a sustainable carbohydrate core

Author

Listed:
  • Lorenz P. Manker

    (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • Maxime A. Hedou

    (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland)

  • Clement Broggi

    (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • Marie J. Jones

    (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Valais-Wallis)

  • Kristoffer Kortsen

    (The University of Manchester)

  • Kalaiyarasi Puvanenthiran

    (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • Yildiz Kupper

    (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • Holger Frauenrath

    (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • François Marechal

    (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Valais-Wallis)

  • Veronique Michaud

    (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • Roger Marti

    (HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland)

  • Michael P. Shaver

    (The University of Manchester)

  • Jeremy S. Luterbacher

    (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL))

Abstract

Sustainably producing plastics with performance properties across a variety of materials chemistries is a major challenge—especially considering that most performance materials use aromatic precursors that are still difficult to source sustainably. Here we demonstrate catalyst-free, melt polymerization of dimethyl glyoxylate xylose, a stabilized carbohydrate that can be synthesized from agricultural waste with 97% atom efficiency, into amorphous polyamides with performances comparable to fossil-based semi-aromatic alternatives. Despite the presence of a carbohydrate core, these materials retain their thermomechanical properties through multiple rounds of high-shear mechanical recycling and could be chemically recycled. Techno-economic and life-cycle analyses suggest selling prices close to those of nylon 66 with a reduction of global warming potential of up to 75%. This work illustrates the versatility of a carbohydrate moiety to impart performance that can compete with that of semi-aromatic polymers across two important materials chemistries.

Suggested Citation

  • Lorenz P. Manker & Maxime A. Hedou & Clement Broggi & Marie J. Jones & Kristoffer Kortsen & Kalaiyarasi Puvanenthiran & Yildiz Kupper & Holger Frauenrath & François Marechal & Veronique Michaud & Roge, 2024. "Performance polyamides built on a sustainable carbohydrate core," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 7(5), pages 640-651, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:7:y:2024:i:5:d:10.1038_s41893-024-01298-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-024-01298-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marvin Bachmann & Christian Zibunas & Jan Hartmann & Victor Tulus & Sangwon Suh & Gonzalo Guillén-Gosálbez & André Bardow, 2023. "Towards circular plastics within planetary boundaries," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(5), pages 599-610, May.
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