Terpene polymerization a binary neodymium-based catalytic system with di--butylmagnesium as a co-catalyst.

The development of materials from renewable resources has been increasing, intending to reduce the consumption of fossil sources, with terpenes being one of the main families that reduce the consumption of isoprene. The study of the binary catalytic system neodymium versatate/dibutyl magnesium (NdV/Mg(-Bu)), for the coordination homopolymerization of β-myrcene and β-farnesene, was carried out analysing different [Nd] : [Mg] ratios (between 4 and 10). Reporting conversions of 92% and 83% at an [Nd] : [Mg] ratio of 8 for polymyrcene (PMy) and polyfarnesene (PFa), respectively, and microstructures comprising 1,4 content above 80% for both polymers (PMy, -59% and PFa, -83%).

Introducing random bio-terpene segments to high -polybutadiene: making elastomeric materials more sustainable.

In this work, we explore the statistical copolymerization of 1,3-butadiene with the terpenic monomers myrcene and farnesene, carried out coordination polymerization using a neodymium-based ternary catalytic system. The resultant copolymers, poly(butadiene--myrcene) and poly(butadiene--farnesene), were synthesized at different monomer ratios, elucidating the influence of the bio-based monomer content over the kinetic variables, molecular and thermal properties, and the reactivity constants (Fineman-Ross and Kelen-Tüdös methods) of the resultant copolymers. The results indicate that through the herein employed conditions, it is possible to obtain "more sustainable" high- (≈95%) polybutadiene elastomers with random and tunable content of bio-based monomer.

Bio-elastomers based on polyocimene synthesized coordination polymerization using neodymium-based catalytic systems.

Towards the development of eco-friendly alternatives of elastomeric materials, which can replace petroleum-based materials, it is crucial to explore different monomers and catalytic systems in order to find the best possible combinations for specific applications. Herein, we report the synthesis of polyocimene coordination polymerization using two different neodymium-based catalysts (NdV and Nd(Oi-Pr)), activated by alkylaluminums/organoboron compounds. By varying the type of co-catalyst species, halide donors, and reaction parameters, we have demonstrated the possibility to obtain polymers with a controlled microstructure and tunable properties, in terms of molecular weight characteristics and kinetics.

Bio-elastomer nanocomposites reinforced with surface-modified graphene oxide prepared coordination polymerization.

This article proposes a method to produce bio-elastomer nanocomposites, based on polyfarnesene or polymyrcene, reinforced with surface-modified graphene oxide (GO). The surface modification is performed by grafting alkylamines (octyl-, dodecyl-, and hexadecylamine) onto the surface of GO. The successful grafting was confirmed spectroscopic (FTIR and Raman) and X-ray diffraction techniques.

Plasma surface-modification of cellulose nanocrystals: a green alternative towards mechanical reinforcement of ABS.

This article proposes a strategy to functionalize cellulose nanocrystals by means of plasma-surface modification utilizing monomers of different nature: caprolactone, styrene and farnesene. The surface characteristics of the nanocrystals were studied by different techniques including XPS, FTIR and STEM, demonstrating that this technique allows a successful functionalization, yielding homogenous functionalization which does not alter the rod-like shape of the nanocrystals, and therefore their anisotropic behavior. We have furthermore studied the employment of the modified nanocrystals as reinforcement additive of ABS, which significantly enhanced the impact resistance of the thermoplastic, which could have great implications for industrial applications.