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可持续生物质资源的应用，这些资源丰富，廉价，非食品为基础，具有适合取代当前石油基树脂的性能和特性的商业聚合物。生物质资源，回收废物产品从林业和纸浆和造纸工业，在松香酸或木质素副产品的形式将专门用于这一努力。该应用的主要重点将是商业双酚A聚合物（BPA）的替代品。加拿大，沿着欧洲，以及美国的几个州都致力于全面禁止这种与各种人类健康问题有关的化学物质。BPA最普遍的应用是建筑行业（片材），包装，汽车零件，玩具，光盘，DVD，安全设备，LCD屏幕，涂料，消费品零件，油墨，墨粉和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、透氧性以及最重要的低成本。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了新的化学，可以影响石油基聚合物的商业上可行的可持续替代品。我们的研究计划将针对可持续建筑单元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开发将废弃生物质转化为商品聚合物所需的化学和工程技术，特别是聚酯，聚碳酸酯，聚酰胺和聚氨酯。这些聚合物通常通过缩聚反应由主要由双官能单体组成的结构单元制备。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官能的或缺乏任何官能性，这项研究计划的关键是将这些可持续材料转化为双官能单体，然后通过具有成本效益的方法进行聚合。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，通过本体反应，以及反应挤出，以避免使用有机溶剂。反应挤出是一种具有成本效益和环境友好的方法，可以生产具有增强性能的新材料。目前，反应挤出允许原位聚合、聚合物的改性/官能化或两个（或更多个）不混溶相的化学键合。虽然反应挤出已经被人们所知多年，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.