Hyperbranched Polyesters

聚合物在广泛的应用中被广泛用作添加剂，以改变系统的物理性质。聚合物传统上由石油基原料制成，并且不可生物降解，导致潜在的意外后果。对塑料使用和废物对环境影响的担忧，使人们对可生物降解和可再生替代品产生了越来越大的兴趣。聚酯是一种可降解的替代品，这是由于其主链中存在可水解的酯键。官能化聚酯可以由1，3-二氧戊环-4-酮（DOX）单体通过具有独特拓扑结构的开环聚合制备。该项目旨在通过超支化聚合反应使官能化DOX单体通过ROP制备具有有用流变性能的可生物降解聚合物。认为这种分子结构将产生良好的粘度改性性质。

Polymers are widely used as additives in a wide array of applications in order to modify the physical properties of the system. Polymers are traditionally made from petroleum-based feedstocks and are not biodegradable, leading to potential unintended consequences. Concerns over the effects of plastic use and waste on the environment has created a growing interest in biodegradable and renewable alternatives. Polyesters are a degradable alternative, owing to the hydrolysable ester bonds present in their backbone. Functionalised polyesters can be made from 1,3-dioxolan-4-one (DOX) monomers via ring-opening polymerization with unique topologies. This project aims to make biodegradable polymers with useful rheological properties by ROP of functionalised DOX monomers through hyperbranched polymerisations. It is thought this molecular architecture will give rise to good viscosity-modifying properties.