Polymers 2012, 4(2), 1259-1277; doi:10.3390/polym4021259
Article

Enzymatic Synthesis and Chemical Recycling of Novel Polyester-Type Thermoplastic Elastomers

Tsukuru Yagiharaemail and Shuichi Matsumura* email
Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 26 April 2012; in revised form: 28 May 2012 / Accepted: 13 June 2012 / Published: 19 June 2012
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Abstract: Novel polyester-type thermoplastic elastomers based on poly(alkylene succinate)s were synthesized by the lipase-catalyzed copolymerization of cyclic diol/succinate oligomer and cyclic diol/alkylthiosuccinate oligomer. These copolymers exhibited biodegradabilities by activated sludge and a wide range of thermal and mechanical properties that were dependent on the molecular structure and the content of side alkylthio groups. The degree of crystallinity of the copolymer decreased with increasing content of alkylthio groups, which were introduced into the polymer chain as a soft segment. Furthermore, lipase-catalyzed depolymerization of these copolymers into cyclic oligomers and repolymerization of the oligomers was carried out. A repolymerized copolymer having the same Mw and monomer composition as the initial copolymer was obtained, indicating the chemical recyclability of the copolymer.
Keywords: biobased polyester; biodegradable; chemical recycling; environmentally benign thermoplastic elastomer; lipase-catalyzed polymerization

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MDPI and ACS Style

Yagihara, T.; Matsumura, S. Enzymatic Synthesis and Chemical Recycling of Novel Polyester-Type Thermoplastic Elastomers. Polymers 2012, 4, 1259-1277.

AMA Style

Yagihara T, Matsumura S. Enzymatic Synthesis and Chemical Recycling of Novel Polyester-Type Thermoplastic Elastomers. Polymers. 2012; 4(2):1259-1277.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yagihara, Tsukuru; Matsumura, Shuichi. 2012. "Enzymatic Synthesis and Chemical Recycling of Novel Polyester-Type Thermoplastic Elastomers." Polymers 4, no. 2: 1259-1277.

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