Novel Polymers Derived from Sustainable Building Block Monomers

我的研究计划的中心重点是推进基础化学和应用的可持续生物质资源，丰富，廉价，非食品为基础的商业聚合物的性能和特征适合取代目前的石油基树脂。从林业和纸浆和造纸工业中回收的作为松香酸或木质素副产品形式的生物质资源将专门用于这项工作。该应用程序的主要焦点将是商业双酚A聚合物（BPA）替代品。加拿大、欧洲以及美国的几个州正致力于全面禁止这种与各种人类健康问题有关的化学品。BPA最普遍的应用是建筑行业（薄板）、包装、汽车零部件、玩具、光盘、dvd、安全设备、LCD屏幕、涂料、消费零部件、油墨、碳粉和3D打印长丝。与这些产品相关的许多特性包括高性能，疏水性，透明度，水解稳定性，透氧性，最重要的是，低成本。我们提出的研究计划，通过替代工艺，方法和HPQ培训为未来的毕业生概述新的化学，可以影响商业上可行的石油基聚合物的可持续替代品。我们的研究项目将针对可持续建筑单体和相应聚合物的合成、开发、性能和加工。该项目的总体目标是发展将废弃生物质转化为商品聚合物所需的化学和工程，特别是聚酯、聚碳酸酯、聚酰胺和聚氨酯。这些聚合物通常是通过缩聚反应由主要由双功能单体组成的构建块生产的。上述提出的由松香酸和木质素降解副产物组成的生物质来源大多是单功能或缺乏任何功能，本研究计划的关键是将这些可持续材料转化为双功能单体，然后通过经济有效的方法进行聚合。我们将把绿色化学和工程的原则应用到我们所有的设计中，无论是单体和聚合过程的体反应，还是反应挤出，以避免使用有机溶剂。反应挤出是一种经济、环保的生产新材料的方法，具有增强的性能。目前，反应挤出技术允许原位聚合、聚合物的改性/功能化或两个（或更多）不混相的化学键合。反应挤出技术虽然已被人们熟知多年，但其在生物基聚合物共混物和复合材料加工中的应用是一个相对较新的科学研究方向。

The central focus of my research program is to advance the fundamental chemistry and applications of sustainable biomass resources that are abundant, inexpensive, and non-food based into commercial polymers with properties and characteristics suitable to replace current petroleum-based resins. The Biomass resource, recovered as waste product from forestry and the Pulp and Paper Industry, in the form of Rosin acids or Lignin by-products will be used exclusively in this effort. The primary focus of this application will target commercial Bisphenol A polymer (BPA) replacement. Canada, along with the Europe, as well as several US states are targeting a complete ban of this chemical linked to various human health problems. The most prevalent applications of BPA are in the construction industry (sheeting), packaging, automotive parts, toys, compact discs, DVDs, safety equipment, LCD screens, coatings, consumer parts, inks, toners, and 3D Printing filament. Many of the properties associated with these products include high performance, hydrophobic, clarity, hydrolytic stability, oxygen permeability, and above all, low cost. Our proposed research program, outlines novel chemistry through alternative process, methodology, and HPQ training for future graduates, that can impact commercially viable sustainable alternatives to petro-based polymers. Our research program will be directed towards the synthesis, development, properties and processing of sustainable building block monomers and corresponding polymers. The overall aim of this project is to develop the chemistry and engineering required to transform waste biomass into a commodity polymer, specifically polyesters, polycarbonates, polyamides and polyurethanes. These polymers are typically produced from building blocks comprised primarily of di-functional monomers via polycondensation reactions. The proposed aforementioned Biomass sources comprised of Rosin acids, and lignin degradation by-products, are mostly mono-functional or lack any functionality, and the key to this research program is to convert these sustainable materials into difunctional monomers, followed by polymerization via cost-effective means. We will apply the principles of Green Chemistry and Engineering into all of our designs, for both monomer and polymerization process by bulk reactions as well as reactive extrusion to avoid the use of organic solvents. Reactive extrusion is a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly method to produce new materials with enhanced performance properties. At present, reactive extrusion allows in-situ polymerization, modification/functionalization of polymers or chemical bonding of two (or more) immiscible phases. Although reactive extrusion has been known for many years, its application for processing of bio-based polymer blends and composites is a relatively new direction of scientific research.