Researchers develop a new polyamide family from a byproduct of cellulose production

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Type of post: RESEARCH NEWS.

A research team from the Fraunhofer Society and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has developed a new polyamide family which can be obtained from a byproduct of cellulose production.
News: “The synthesis of bio-based high-performance polyamide from biogenic residues”, 27/1/2020.

Figure 1. Monomeric unit of poly-3S-caranamide, the new biobased polyamide (Image: P. Stockmann, TUM). A team led by Volker Sieber, Professor of the Chemistry of Biogenic Raw Materials at TUM, has developed a completely new polyamide family which can be obtained from a byproduct of cellulose production.

New polyamide family

The biogenic starting material, (+)-3-carene, is made up of two rings which are fused to one another. The chemists at the TUM and the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB) in Straubing have now modified one of the rings in such a way that it can be opened up, yielding a long chain of molecules. The second ring remains intact here. In this way, instead of a linear polymer chain like in traditional polyamides, a chain which bears many small rings and other side groups emerges. This gives the polymer completely new functions.

Feedstock

 (+)-3-carene can be distilled at a high purity and comparatively low cost from the turpentine oil produced as a secondary product in the cellulose industry.

Special properties

The new polyamides are attractive for many applications due to their properties. They melt at higher temperatures than the competing crude oil derived products. In addition, controlling reaction conditions and catalysts during synthesis, the new compounds can be produced transparently as well as in a partially crystalline manner.

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