Author:

Keywords:

Chemistry, Chemistry, Multidisciplinary, ELEMENTAL SULFUR, GLASS TRANSITIONS, Green & Sustainable Science & Technology, INTERFACIAL POLYCONDENSATION, LACTONE POLYMERS, lactones, LINEAR POLYTHIOESTERS, MAIN-CHAIN, MATRIX PHOTOCHEMISTRY, PHOSPHORUS PENTASULFIDE, Physical Sciences, POLY-EPSILON-CAPROLACTONE, polythioesters, REAGENT COMBINATION, recycling, ring-opening polymerization, Science & Technology, Science & Technology - Other Topics, sulfur, IDN/20/010#55946172, 0301 Analytical Chemistry, 0399 Other Chemical Sciences, 0904 Chemical Engineering, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, 3403 Macromolecular and materials chemistry, 3405 Organic chemistry, 4004 Chemical engineering

Abstract:

As the environmental effects of plastics are of ever greater concern, the industry is driven towards more sustainable polymers. Besides sustainability, our fast-developing society imposes the need for highly versatile materials. Whereas aliphatic polyesters (PEs) are widely adopted and studied as next-generation biobased and (bio)degradable materials, their sulfur-containing analogs, polythioesters (PTEs), only recently gained attention. Nevertheless, the introduction of S atoms is known to often enhance thermal, mechanical, electrochemical, and optical properties, offering prospects for broad applicability. Furthermore, thanks to their thioester-based backbone, PTEs are inherently susceptible to degradation, giving them a high sustainability potential. The key route to PTEs is through ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of thio(no)lactones. This Review critically discusses the (potential) sustainability of the most relevant state-of-the-art in every step from sulfur source to end-of-life treatment options of PTEs, obtained through ROP of thio(no)lactones. The benefits and drawbacks of PTEs versus PEs are highlighted, including their industrial perspective.