CAS: Terpene-Derived Polymers as Platforms for Structure-Property Studies of Sustainable Materials

University Of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville TN

Investigators

Abstract

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: There is a critical need to understand the intrinsic relationships between chemical structure and the bulk physical properties of bio-based polymers. This is especially true so that biologically-derived materials can be designed to mirror the properties of petroleum-based plastics. Terpenes, which display a rich variety of structures, are valuable building blocks for preparing polymers that lend themselves to such systematic structure-property studies. This proposal entails the synthesis of novel polymers that are derived from terpene feedstocks, as well as the characterization of their fundamental properties in order to connect molecular and mesoscale structure to performance. Emphasis will be devoted to understanding how backbone connectivity and orientation modulate the thermal and mechanical properties of terpene-based (co)polymers. The insights achieved during this work will accelerate the development of biologically-derived plastics with precisely tailored properties and functions. Moreover, this work could shed new light on how unique structural elements can be leveraged to design a wide range of polymers with targeted properties. This research will be integrated with a broader effort to promote science literacy and engage academic and public communities at the state and national levels. A multifaceted plan will develop new curriculum initiatives, promote collaborative learning, and promote science literacy through web-based platforms (i.e., YouTube) by connecting research outcomes to real-world applications and challenges. TECHNICAL SUMMARY: There is a critical need to understand the intrinsic relationships between the rich structural complexity of bio-based polymers and their physical properties. This is especially true in the context of designing biologically-derived materials that can mirror the properties of petroleum-based plastics. Terpenoids, which display a wide range of carbocyclic structures, are valuable platforms for preparing polymers that lend themselves to systematic structure-property studies. Indeed, polymers comprised of rigid carbocyclic motifs (e.g., cyclic-olefin copolymers) are enticing materials that exhibit unique (and, in certain cases, predictable) physical properties. Unfortunately, the limited scope of carbocycles that can be incorporated within macromolecular architectures has significantly hindered efforts to systematically probe more subtle structure-property relationships. This research seeks to elucidate the interplay between constitutional isomerism, backbone stereochemistry, and bulk thermomechanical properties in terpenoid analogues of cyclic olefin (co)polymers. The work is expected to dramatically expand the chemical space available to polymer science and reveal fundamental insights into an unexplored family of biologically-derived polymers. The insights gained from this research will accelerate the development of biologically-derived plastics (including thermoplastic elastomers) with precisely tailored properties and functions. This research will be integrated with a broader effort to promote science literacy and engage academic and public communities at the state and national levels. A multifaceted plan will develop new curriculum initiatives, promote collaborative learning, and promote science literacy through web-based platforms (i.e., YouTube) by connecting research outcomes to real-world applications and challenges. . This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.