Turning down the heat: catalyst-free, low-temperature chemical degradation of thermoplastic polyurethanes.

ABSTRACT: Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) constitute one of the most industrially relevant polymers because of their versatile and tunable properties, which makes them very interesting for a wide range of applications. However, their chemical degradability and recyclability is only achievable through hydrolysis or glycolysis of the urethane moieties, which typically occurs when using catalysts and elevated temperatures, thus resulting in a poorly cost- and energy-efficient process. Herein, we report a novel strategy where variable amounts of chemically degradable β-amino ester (BAE) moieties are incorporated into the main backbone of the thermoplastic urethanes. The amino group in the β-position of the ester was thought to act as an internal, covalently bonded catalyst that not only enables the p

SUBMITTER: Roig A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12551780 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature