The utilization of plant oil renewable resources as raw materials for monomers and polymers is discussed and reviewed. In an age of increasing oil prices, global warming and other environmental problems (e.g. waste) the change from fossil feedstock to renewable resources can considerably contribute to a sustainable development in the future. Especially plant derived fats and oils bear a large potential for the substitution of currently used petrochemicals, since monomers, fine chemicals and polymers can be derived from these resources in a straightforward fashion. The synthesis of monomers as well as polymers from plant fats and oils has already found some industrial application and recent developments in this field offer promising new opportunities, as is shown within this contribution. (138 references.)

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Plant oil renewable resources as green alternatives in polymer science

This perspective article examines the state of the art regarding the field of polymers from renewable resources and attempts to give a critical appraisal of the situation related to a representative number of specific materials, in terms of their interest, present degree of advancement, and prospective development within short- and medium-term projections. The selected examples include polysaccharides and their derivatives, lignin, suberin, vegetable oils, tannins, natural monomers like terpenes, and monomers derived from sugars, with particular emphasis on furan derivatives and lactic acid, bacterial cellulose, and poly(hydroxyalkanoates), ending with a brief assessment of the potential role of glycerol and ethanol as future precursors to monomers.

Polymers from Renewable Resources: A Challenge for the Future of Macromolecular Materials

Natural and synthetic polymers for wounds and burns dressing

Reḿi Auvergne,† Sylvain Caillol,† Ghislain David,*,† Bernard Boutevin,† and Jean-Pierre Pascault‡,§ †Institut Charles Gerhardt UMR CNRS 5253 Laboratoire Ingeńierie et Architecture Macromolećulaire, Ecole Nationale Supeŕieure de Chimie de Montpellier, 8 rue de l’Ecole Normale, 34296 Montpellier Cedex 05, France ‡INSA-Lyon, IMP, UMR5223, F-69621, Villeurbanne, France Universite ́ de Lyon, F-69622, Lyon, France

Biobased thermosetting epoxy: present and future.

Thermosetting (bio)materials derived from renewable resources: A critical review

Polymers from triglyceride oils

In order to investigate the effects of surface roughness, surface wettability and swelling on protein adsorption, polyurethane films were prepared from castor oil (CO) and poly(ethylene glycol)-3000 (PEG) using one-shot bulk polymerization. Hexamethylene diisocyanate and 1,4-butanediol were used as isocyanate and chain extender, respectively. The hydrophilicity of the polyurethane films was adjusted by varying the ratio of CO to PEG. The surface of the polyurethane films was treated using plasma polymerization in the presence of acrylic acid vapour. Therefore, the polyurethane films could be obtained with the same hydrophilicity but with different roughness. The hydrophilicity of untreated and treated polymer films was examined using contact angle measurements. The surface topology of the polymer films was investigated using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Adsorption of bovine serum albumin and bovine serum fibrinogen on treated and untreated polymer films was determined and the performance of the films was compared. After evaluation of all results it is found that surface roughness and swelling are as important as hydrophilicity for protein adsorption in the case of CO/PEG-based polyurethanes. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry

Which is more effective for protein adsorption: surface roughness, surface wettability or swelling? Case study of polyurethane films prepared from castor oil and poly(ethylene glycol)

Fatty acid-based polyurethane films were prepared for use as potential wound dressing material. The polymerization reaction was carried out with or without catalyst. Polymer films were prepared by casting-evaporation technique with or without crosslink-catalyst. The film prepared from uncatalyzed reaction product with crosslink-catalyst gave slightly higher crosslink density. The mechanical tests showed that, the increase in the tensile strength and decrease in the elongation at break is due to the increase in the degree of crosslinking. All films were flexible, and resisted to acid solution. The films prepared without crosslink-catalyst were more hydrophilic, absorbed more water. The highest permeability values were generally obtained for the films prepared without crosslink catalyst. Both the direct contact method and the MMT test were applied for determination of cytotoxicity of polymer films and the polyurethane film prepared from uncatalyzed reaction product without crosslink-catalyst showed better biocompatibility property, closest to the commercial product, Opsite®.

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Fatty acid-based polyurethane films for wound dressing applications

Polyurethane–zinc borate composites with high oxidative stability and flame retardancy

Polyurethane films based on renewable sources were prepared as an alternative to petroleum-based polyurethane. The effects of the structure and ratio of diisocyanate components on polymer properties were investigated. Hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI) and diphenylmethylene diisocyanate (MDI) were chosen as the diisocyanate components in polymer synthesis. Membranes were prepared by casting-evaporation technique and characterized for their gas permeability, film and mechanical properties. The oil-based membranes were found to be suitable for wound dressing applications.

F. Seniha Güner

Papers

Polymers from triglyceride oils

Which is more effective for protein adsorption: surface roughness, surface wettability or swelling? Case study of polyurethane films prepared from castor oil and poly(ethylene glycol)

Fatty acid-based polyurethane films for wound dressing applications

Polyurethane–zinc borate composites with high oxidative stability and flame retardancy

Polyurethane Films for Wound Dressing Applications