Synthesis, Characterization, and Biodegradability of Novel Fully Biobased Poly(decamethylene-co-isosorbide 2,5-furandicarboxylate) Copolyesters with Enhanced Mechanical Properties

Abstract

This study spotlighted a successful synthesis of a novel series of biobased poly(decamethylene-co-isosorbide 2,5-furandicarboxylate)s (PDIsFs) copolyesters from dimethylfuran-2,5-dicarboxylate (DMFD), isosorbide (Is), and 1,10-decanediol (1,10-DD) by melt polycondensation, using titanium(IV) isopropoxide (TTIP). The chemical structure and composition of prepared polymers were confirmed in detail by 1H NMR and FTIR spectroscopies. Satisfactory weight-average molecular weights (Mw) in the 55,300–84,500 g/mol range and random microstructures were obtained for PDIsFs. It was shown that Is unit incorporation into the copolyesters molecular chains was dramatically effective in increasing the glass transition temperatures (Tg) and in delaying the onset decomposition temperatures of PDIsFs. Hence, an excellent improvement of the thermal stability exceeding 405 °C for all copolymers was obtained. In addition, the degradation behavior in soil as well as the mechanical properties of PDIsFs were duly investigated in ...