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Title: Functionalization and Repurposing of Polypropylene to a Thermoset Polyurethane
Developing effective recycling pathways for polyolefin waste, enabling a move to a circular economy, is an imperative that must be met. Post-use modification has shown promising results in upcycling polyolefins, removing the limitation of inertness, and improving the final physical properties of the recycled material while extending its useful lifetime. Grafting of maleic anhydride groups to polypropylene is an established industrial process that enhances its reactivity and provides a convenient route to further functionalization and upcycling. In this work, maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PPgMAH) was hydroxylated, and subsequently cured with a diisocyanate to form a thermoset polyurethane (PU). The crystal structure (unit cell and lamellar structure) of the polypropylene (PP) was preserved in the PU. At room temperature, the PU showed high modulus due to the crystallization behavior of the PP; upon increasing the temperature above the melting temperature, the modulus decreased to a rubbery plateau, consistent with formation of a network. The resulting PU showed higher glass transition temperature and lower degree of crystallinity than its PP predecessor due to the crosslinked nature of the polymer. The mechanical integrity of the PU was maintained through several reprocessing cycles due to the melt processability enabled by the presence of a urethane exchange catalyst. This functionalization and upcycling route thus offers a promising alternative to repurposing PP waste, in which the creation of melt-processable thermoset polymers expands applications for the materials.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1906009
PAR ID:
10548171
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ;
Publisher / Repository:
ACS Journals
Date Published:
Journal Name:
ACS Macro Letters
ISSN:
2161-1653
Page Range / eLocation ID:
1442 to 1448
Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
Polyolefin recycling and upcycling, network formation, crystallinity, urethane exchange, processable thermoset
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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