The reliance of plastic synthesis on fossil fuels is highly unsustainable. Polymers from renewable sources such as sugars are a highly attractive alternative due to their functionality and abundance. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a commercial bioplastic made from the ring-opening polymerisation (ROP) of L-lactide[1] and is currently one of the most successful commercially available sustainable polymers.[2] PLA’s low melting point and high mechanical strength make it an attractive alternative to traditional plastics in applications such as 3D printing and packaging.[3] However, PLA has a fairly simple polymer structure with little functionality, therefore limiting its applications and degradation potential.
Our group is focused on synthesising and investigating sugar-based monomers. These are biocompatible, biodegradable and highly functional. This work focuses on ring opening copolymerisation (ROCOP) of L-lactide with sugar-derived comonomers, incorporating their desired properties into the resulting copolymer. The conditions of this reaction have been optimised; varied temperatures have been investigated, along with varied comonomer ratios. The influence of the copolymer composition on its thermal properties and degradation profiles have been explored.
1. Kricheldorf, H.R. and S.M. Weidner, Syntheses of polylactides by means of tin catalysts. Polymer Chemistry, 2022. 13(12): p. 1618-1647.
2. Mohanty, A.K., et al., Sustainable polymers. Nature Reviews Methods Primers, 2022. 2(1): p. 46.
3. Inkinen, S., et al., From Lactic Acid to Poly(lactic acid) (PLA): Characterization and Analysis of PLA and Its Precursors. Biomacromolecules, 2011. 12(3): p. 523-532.