Microwave-assisted synthesis of sucrose polyurethanes and their semi-interpenetrating polymer networks with polycaprolactane and soybean oil

Authors: Biswas, Atanu; Kim, Sanghoon; GOMEZ, ANALIA - Universidade De Sao Paulo; Berhenke, Megan; Boddu, Veera; Cheng, Huai

Submitted to: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/14/2018
Publication Date: 2/14/2018
Citation: Biswas, A., Kim, S., Gomez, A., Buttrum, M.A., Boddu, V.M., Cheng, H.N. 2018. Microwave-assisted synthesis of sucrose polyurethanes and their semi-interpenetrating polymer networks with polycaprolactane and soybean oil. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research. 57: 3227-3234. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.iecr.7b04059.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.7b04059

Interpretive Summary: We have shown that it is possible to use microwave-assisted synthetic methodology to produce sucrose polyurethanes. The TDI/sucrose ratio needs to be determined in order to give the molecular weight and thermal properties needed for a given application. The chemical structures of the sucrose polyurethanes produced from conventional heat and from microwave were similar. We have also shown that the sucrose polyurethane is a convenient medium to produce semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs). As proof of principle, we have incorporated PLA and SBO into sucrose polyurethanes. It may be noted that the final materials are biodegradable and eco-friendly. Other semi-IPN’s involving different polymers may be made in a similar fashion. The novel processes disclosed in this work will benefit industrial chemical manufacturers save time and energy during the production of sucrose based polyurethane.

Technical Abstract: Because of the current interest in sustainability, environmental stewardship, and green chemistry, there has been a lot of interest in using agrobased raw materials for the design of polymeric materials. One of the promising biorenewable materials is sucrose, which is inexpensive and widely available. In this work we have carried out the synthesis of sucrose-toluene diisocyanate-based polyurethane through microwave-assisted reactions. Comparisons of conventional heat versus microwave reactions have been made. Microwave-assisted synthesis has been found to significantly decrease the reaction time and save energy relative to conventional heat. The sucrose polyurethane has turned out to be a suitable matrix to prepare semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) involving a second material. Two examples shown in this work are the semi-IPNs of sucrose polyurethane with polycaprolactone and soybean oil. Characterization of the polymers has been conducted with 13C NMR, FT-IR, sizeexclusion chromatography, and thermal analysis.