Three parallel algorithms for classical molecular dynamics are presented. The first assigns each processor a fixed subset of atoms; the second assigns each a fixed subset of inter-atomic forces to compute; the third assigns each a fixed spatial region. The algorithms are suitable for molecular dynamics models which can be difficult to parallelize efficiently—those with short-range forces where the neighbors of each atom change rapidly. They can be implemented on any distributed-memory parallel machine which allows for message-passing of data between independently executing processors. The algorithms are tested on a standard Lennard-Jones benchmark problem for system sizes ranging from 500 to 100,000,000 atoms on several parallel supercomputers--the nCUBE 2, Intel iPSC/860 and Paragon, and Cray T3D. Comparing the results to the fastest reported vectorized Cray Y-MP and C90 algorithm shows that the current generation of parallel machines is competitive with conventional vector supercomputers even for small problems. For large problems, the spatial algorithm achieves parallel efficiencies of 90% and a 1840-node Intel Paragon performs up to 165 faster than a single Cray C9O processor. Trade-offs between the three algorithms and guidelines for adapting them to more complex molecular dynamics simulations are also discussed.

Fast parallel algorithms for short-range molecular dynamics

Renewable resources are used increasingly in the production of polymers. In particular, monomers such as carbon dioxide, terpenes, vegetable oils and carbohydrates can be used as feedstocks for the manufacture of a variety of sustainable materials and products, including elastomers, plastics, hydrogels, flexible electronics, resins, engineering polymers and composites. Efficient catalysis is required to produce monomers, to facilitate selective polymerizations and to enable recycling or upcycling of waste materials. There are opportunities to use such sustainable polymers in both high-value areas and in basic applications such as packaging. Life-cycle assessment can be used to quantify the environmental benefits of sustainable polymers.

/pdf/sustainable-polymers-from-renewable-resources-3zc6tmi7nv.pdf

Sustainable polymers from renewable resources

Bioplastics - typically plastics manufactured from bio-based polymers - stand to contribute to more sustainable commercial plastic life cycles as part of a circular economy, in which virgin polymers are made from renewable or recycled raw materials. Carbon-neutral energy is used for production and products are reused or recycled at their end of life (EOL). In this Review, we assess the advantages and challenges of bioplastics in transitioning towards a circular economy. Compared with fossil-based plastics, bio-based plastics can have a lower carbon footprint and exhibit advantageous materials properties; moreover, they can be compatible with existing recycling streams and some offer biodegradation as an EOL scenario if performed in controlled or predictable environments. However, these benefits can have trade-offs, including negative agricultural impacts, competition with food production, unclear EOL management and higher costs. Emerging chemical and biological methods can enable the 'upcycling' of increasing volumes of heterogeneous plastic and bioplastic waste into higher-quality materials. To guide converters and consumers in their purchasing choices, existing (bio)plastic identification standards and life cycle assessment guidelines need revision and homogenization. Furthermore, clear regulation and financial incentives remain essential to scale from niche polymers to large-scale bioplastic market applications with truly sustainable impact. 

/pdf/bioplastics-for-a-circular-economy-1nile511.pdf

Bioplastics for a circular economy

Plastics are key components of almost any technology today. Although their production consumes substantial feedstock resources, plastics are largely disposed of after their service life. In terms of a circular economy1–8, reuse of post-consumer sorted polymers (‘mechanical recycling’) is hampered by deterioration of materials performance9,10. Chemical recycling1,11 via depolymerization to monomer offers an alternative that retains high-performance properties. The linear hydrocarbon chains of polyethylene12 enable crystalline packing and provide excellent materials properties13. Their inert nature hinders chemical recycling, however, necessitating temperatures above 600 degrees Celsius and recovering ethylene with a yield of less than 10 per cent3,11,14. Here we show that renewable polycarbonates and polyesters with a low density of in-chain functional groups as break points in a polyethylene chain can be recycled chemically by solvolysis with a recovery rate of more than 96 per cent. At the same time, the break points do not disturb the crystalline polyethylene structure, and the desirable materials properties (like those of high-density polyethylene) are fully retained upon recycling. Processing can be performed by common injection moulding and the materials are well-suited for additive manufacturing, such as 3D printing. Selective removal from model polymer waste streams is possible. In our approach, the initial polymers result from polycondensation of long-chain building blocks, derived by state-of-the-art catalytic schemes from common plant oil feedstocks, or microalgae oils15. This allows closed-loop recycling of polyethylene-like materials. Polycarbonates and polyesters with materials properties like those of high-density polyethylene can be recycled chemically by depolymerization to their constituent monomers, re-polymerization yielding material with uncompromised processing and materials properties.

/pdf/closed-loop-recycling-of-polyethylene-like-materials-595ogdlce4.pdf

Closed-loop recycling of polyethylene-like materials.

Other than their established short-chain congeners, polycondensates based on long-chain difunctional monomers are often dominated by the long methylene sequences of the repeat units in their solid-state structures and properties. This places them between traditional polycondensates and polyethylenes. The availability of long-chain monomers as a key prerequisite has benefited much from advances in the catalytic conversion of plant oils, via biotechnological and purely chemical approaches, likewise. This has promoted studies of, among others, applications-relevant properties. A comprehensive account is given of long-chain monomer syntheses and the preparation and physical properties, morphologies, mechanical behavior, and degradability of long-chain polyester, polyamides, polyurethanes, polyureas, polyacetals, and polycarbonates.

Long-Chain Aliphatic Polymers To Bridge the Gap between Semicrystalline Polyolefins and Traditional Polycondensates

α,ω-Difunctionalized long-chain compounds A-(CH2)n-B are valuable intermediates and monomers. Unsymmetrical compounds with two different functional groups (A ≠ B) are, however, only accessible by multistep traditional organic syntheses to date. We report on their generation in a single step by isomerizing alkoxycarbonylations of the double bond deep in the chain of oleic derivatives. The compatibility with amide, nitrile and imide functionalities in the substrate allows for the formation with high linear selectivities (ca. 90%) and conversions (70 to 96%) of unsymmetric diesters, ester–amides, ester-nitriles and ester-(N-imides) in which these functional groups are terminally attached to a ≥ 17 methylene unit chain. These products further provide access to carboxylic acid-esters, alcohol-esters and amino-esters, and polymers from these AB-monomers. Undesired transesterifications that scramble the A and B functionalities are suppressed completely (<0.1%) by the utilization of a Pd(II) catalyst precursor de...

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acscatal.5b00825

Unsymmetrical α,ω-Difunctionalized Long-Chain Compounds via Full Molecular Incorporation of Fatty Acids

Starting from common monounsaturated fatty acids, a strategy is revealed that provides ultra-long aliphatic α,ω-difunctional building blocks by a sequence of two scalable catalytic steps that virtually double the chain length of the starting materials. The central double bond of the α,ω-dicarboxylic fatty acid self-metathesis products is shifted selectively to the statistically much-disfavored α,β-position in a catalytic dynamic isomerizing crystallization approach. "Chain doubling" by a subsequent catalytic olefin metathesis step, which overcomes the low reactivity of this substrates by using waste internal olefins as recyclable co-reagents, yields ultra-long-chain α,ω-difunctional building blocks of a precise chain length, as demonstrated up to a C48 chain. The unique nature of these structures is reflected by unrivaled melting points (Tm =120 °C) of aliphatic polyesters generated from these telechelic monomers, and by their self-assembly to polyethylene-like single crystals.

/pdf/chain-multiplication-of-fatty-acids-to-precise-telechelic-lkubiqchka.pdf

Chain Multiplication of Fatty Acids to Precise Telechelic Polyethylene

We report the synthesis of ionic telechelic low-molecular-weight polyethylenes (PEs) with precise chain lengths that are derived from plant oils along with their morphologies and temperature-dependent ionic conductivities. Starting from the C48 telechelic dimethyl ester, or the C23 analogue for comparison, different ionic carboxylate end groups (H+, Na+, Cs+, Zn2+) were introduced by microwave-assisted saponification chemistry. Because of the precise length of the polymethylene sequence, these difunctional telechelic PEs crystallize into exceptionally well-ordered nanoscale-layered structures at room temperature. As a consequence of their extended chain crystal nature, the layer thickness is directly encoded by the telechelic molecules methylene chain length. Notably, C21(COONa)2, C46(COONa)2, and C46(COOCs)2 exhibit transitions in the crystalline structure prior to the fully disordered melt state, as evidenced by differential scanning calorimetry and in situ X-ray scattering. The melting transition is ty...

Monodisperse and Telechelic Polyethylenes Form Extended Chain Crystals with Ionic Layers

tarting from readily available oleic and erucic acid, macrocyclic nonadecalactone (C19) and tricosalactone (C23) can be synthesized in polymerization grade purity in a four-step reaction sequence. Ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of these strainless macrolactones can be performed utilizing an enzyme as a catalyst. Despite the missing ring-strain as key driving force for smaller (strained) lactones, high molar masses (Mn ≈ 105 g mol−1) can be accessed in an entropically driven ROP. Polyester-19 and polyester-23 prepared feature melting temperatures well above 100 °C. Further analysis of the mechanical properties of these materials displays the resemblance to polyethylene. For example, Young's moduli on the order of 600 MPa are observed as a result of the high crystallinity of the polymer.

Manuel Häußler

Papers

Closed-loop recycling of polyethylene-like materials.

Unsymmetrical α,ω-Difunctionalized Long-Chain Compounds via Full Molecular Incorporation of Fatty Acids

Chain Multiplication of Fatty Acids to Precise Telechelic Polyethylene

Monodisperse and Telechelic Polyethylenes Form Extended Chain Crystals with Ionic Layers

No Strain, No Gain? Enzymatic Ring-Opening Polymerization of Strainless Aliphatic Macrolactones.