Composite Materials made from Biobased Limonene Originating Polycarbonates
Polymer composites are lightweight, load-bearing materials that can be used for strength-requiring applications, such as construction, infrastructure (e.g., gas pipelines), or in the automotive industry. A polymer composite typically consists of a polymeric matrix, generally a cross-linked thermoset, containing reinforcing fibers that provide structural resistance. Examples of such composites derived from bio-renewable sources, however, are scarce.
This proposal is based on the valorization of limonene oxide derived polycarbonate, PLC. This material results from ICIQ’s expertise in co-polymerization catalysis, and the ability to post-modify the resulting polycarbonate producing cross-linkable matrices. The constituents of the polymer are: i) limonene oxide, a plant bio-based monomer that is sourced from waste (orange peels from juice industry); and ii) carbon dioxide, a well-known greenhouse gas. UPotsdam expertise will be used to design and characterize composite materials prepared from PLC. The main objective is to obtain a novel bio-based material suitable for the composite market.
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