Aliphatic-Aromatic Copolyester Toughness and Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current polypropylene-based materials face challenges such as low surface tension, incompatibility with other polymers, difficulty in dyeing, and high energy requirements for production from renewable resources, limiting their applicability and environmental sustainability.
Innovation Solution
Development of an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester with specific monomer ratios and renewable aromatic diacids, offering improved toughness, tensile strength, and ability to crystallize under stretching, while maintaining high elastic modulus and elongation at break, suitable for mono and bi-oriented films and fibers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If polypropylene is used for production of films and fibers, then workability and versatility are improved, but compatibility with other polymers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite polymer system by blending the aliphatic-aromatic copolyester with other polymers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or biodegradable polymers. This composite approach allows the material to inherit the versatility and workability of polypropylene while the aromatic diacid component provides improved compatibility and interfacial adhesion between different polymer phases, resolving the contradiction between versatility and compatibility.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If polypropylene from renewable resources is used, then sustainability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the aromatic diacid content parameter within a specific range (greater than 50% and less than or equal to 100%) to achieve a balance between sustainability and energy consumption. By precisely controlling this compositional parameter, the copolyester maintains renewable resource benefits while optimizing processing energy requirements through improved crystallization behavior and melting characteristics.
3Ease of manufacture
If polypropylene is used, then ease of processing is improved, but surface tension and dyeability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces aromatic diacid units at specific positions within the polymer chain to locally modify surface properties. The aromatic groups concentrate at the polymer surface, providing improved surface tension and dyeability without significantly altering the bulk processing characteristics. This local modification allows the material to maintain ease of processing while overcoming surface-related limitations.
4Strength
If copolyester with high aromatic diacid content is used, then toughness and tensile strength are improved, but workability when mixed with other polymers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a dynamic balance in the copolyester structure where the aromatic diacid units provide structural rigidity and strength, while the aliphatic diacid segments maintain chain flexibility and mobility. This dynamic molecular architecture allows the polymer to exhibit high tensile strength and toughness while retaining adequate workability and processability when mixed with other polymers, as the flexible segments facilitate chain entanglement and mixing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The copolyester provides enhanced workability and performance comparable to polypropylene, with improved compatibility and sustainability, suitable for various applications including films and fibers, and can be mixed with other polymers without the need for additional chain extenders.
Implementation Method 1
ability to crystallize under stretching
Data Source
AI summary
Aliphatic-aromatic copolyester comprising the repeating units, which comprise a dicarboxylic component and a dihydroxylic component:—[—O—(R11)—O—C(O)—(R13)—C(O)—]——[—O—(R12)—O—C(O)—(R14)—C(O)—]—.The dihydroxylic component comprises units —O—(R11)—O— and —O—(R12)—O— from diols, wherein R11 and R12 individually are selected from C2-C14 alkylene, C5-C10 cycloalkylene, C2-C12 oxyalkylene, heterocycles and mixtures thereof. The dicarboxylic component comprises units —C(O)—(R13)—C(O)— from aliphatic diacids and units —C(O)—(R14)—C(O)— from aromatic diacids, wherein R13 is C0-C20 alkylene and mixtures thereof. The aromatic diacids comprise at least one heterocyclic aromatic diacid of renewable origin, and preferably furandicarboxylic acid. The molar percentage of the aromatic diacids is >90% and <100% of the dicarboxylic component. The aliphatic-aromatic copolyester has appreciable workability, toughness and high values for ultimate tensile strength and elastic modulus. It can be mixed with other polymers.