Poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PEF) is a recyclable, 100% plant-based polyester with high gas barrier properties, tensile modulus and strength, and a much lower carbon footprint compared to its conventional counterparts such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) [1,2]. PEF, known under the brand name Releaf by Avantium, can be used in a wide range of applications such as packaging, textiles, and films [2,3]. Similar to PET polymerization, diethylene glycol (DEG) is formed as a side reaction during the melt polymerization of PEF. It is known as a weak point in the thermal and thermo-oxidative degradation for polyesters and can significantly slow down its crystallization. To study the effect of DEG content on the thermal properties and crystallization kinetics of PEF, different levels of DEG suppressant (0-800 ppm) were included in the PEF formulations to produce a series of resins with different DEG content. The results showed that DEG significantly influenced the degree of crystallization (Xc) and crystallization rate of PEF, regardless of the crystallization temperatures (150 °C to 190 °C). Discernible trends were observed in the values of melting point (Tm) and glass transition temperature (Tg) as a function of the DEG content increase. In more detail, Xc, Tm, Tg as well as the half-time crystallization of PEF increased steadily with decreasing DEG content in the resin. The findings obtained here confirm the crucial role of the PEF formulation in tuning the thermal properties of PEF including the crystallization kinetics, thus overcoming the drawback of high DEG content in PEF, which may restrict it for wide applications.

References

1- N. Kasmi, G.Z. Papageorgiou, D.S. Achilias, D.N. Bikiaris, Polymers 2018, 10 (5), 471.

2- E. de Jong, H.A. Visser, A.S. Dias, C. Harvey, G.-J.M. Gruter, Polymers 2022, 14 (5), 943.

3- https://www.releaf.bio/