Thermal Properties of Biobased Polymers: Furandicarboxylic Acid (FDCA)-Based Polyesters

Abstract

Furanic building blocks can be prepared by sugar conversion processes. Of these building blocks, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) has strong potential for the preparation of biobased aromatic polyesters with both similarities and unique characteristics in comparison with terephthalic polyesters. This chapter aims to highlight the most significant breakthroughs on the thermal properties of FDCA polyesters. Poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate), also referred as poly(ethylene 2,5-furanoate) or PEF, is a furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) polyester with structural analogy to polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Thus, PEF synthesis, physical properties, thermal and mechanical properties, quiescent and strain-induced crystallization, glass transition, and molecular mobility are discussed. In addition, the thermal properties of PEF nanocomposites are also presented. Finally, the end of this chapter is dedicated to FDCA polyesters prepared with longer chain diols (i.e., containing from 3 to 12 methylene groups) as the flexibility and the consequent thermal properties of these FDCA polyesters are linked to the number of methylene units.