Upcycling Polynorbornene Derivatives into Chemically Recyclable Multiblock Linear and Thermoset Plastics

Journal Article · Fri Jan 17 04:00:00 EST 2025 · Angewandte Chemie - International Edition

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202423111· OSTI ID:2526223

Liu, Kun; Battson, Megan E.; Hu, Zhitao; Zhao, Yucheng; Rettner, Emma M.; Miscall, Joel; Rorrer, Nicholas A.; Miyake, Garret M.

Synthetic polymers have found widespread use, but their ineffective end-of-life treatment is causing a significant environmental and human health crisis. Here, we demonstrate the upcycling of polynorbornene derivatives (pNBEs) through their deconstruction into distinct oligomeric buildings blocks that can be repolymerized into chemically recyclable pNBEs-like multiblock polymers via dehydrogenative polymerization. The resulting materials exhibit diverse mechanical properties, while integrating high melting temperatures (Tm as high as 133 degrees C). Notably, this method could also enable the selective deconstruction of permanently cross-linked polydicyclopentadiene (pDCPD) thermosets into telechelic-OH functionalized oligomers, overcoming the significant challenges posed by their robust network structure in recycling and degradation. The resulting pDCPD oligomers can subsequently be repolymerized with macrodiols to create multiblock thermosets with tunable mechanical properties, including Young's modulus and tensile elongation. After use, upcycled plastics could be effectively deconstructed back to the oligomers for recovery and repolymerization. Overall, this work establishes an approach that can be utilized to upcycle pNBEs into previously inaccessible multiblock thermosets and thermoplastics with full recyclability, and may be generalizable to a range of polymers to shift their end-of-life waste disposal toward sustainable recovery and reuse.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Technologies Office (AMMTO); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 2526223
• Report Number(s): NREL/JA-2800-93561; MainId:95343; UUID:f0a1fc8c-f700-480a-8b37-7eb47b20fa44; MainAdminId:76242
• Journal Information: Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, Journal Name: Angewandte Chemie - International Edition Journal Issue: 14 Vol. 64
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY,MATERIALS SCIENCE
pDCPD
synthetic polymers
upcycled plastics