A Closed‐Loop Recyclable Low‐Density Polyethylene
Open accessAbstract
Low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) is one of the most important plastics, which is produced unfortunately under extreme conditions. In addition, it consists of robust aliphatic C─C bonds which are challenging to cleave for plastic recycling. A low‐pressure and ‐temperature (p ethylene = 2 bara, T = 70 °C) macromonomer‐based synthesis of long chain branched polyethylene is reported. The introduction of recycle points permits the polymerization (grafting to) of the macromonomers to form the long chain branched polyethylene and its depolymerization (branch cleavage). Coordinative chain transfer polymerization employing ethylene and co‐monomers is used for the synthesis of the macromonomers, permitting a high flexibility of their precise structure and efficient synthesis. The long chain branched polyethylene material matches key properties of low‐density polyethylene.
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- Authors
- Unger, C., Schmalz, H., Lipp, J., Kretschmer, W. P., & Kempe, R.
- Affiliations
- University of Bayreuth (DE)
- Bavarian Polymer Institute (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Kempe, Rhett
- Venue
- Advanced Science
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2024-01-23
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 13
- Pages
- e2307229-e2307229
- ISSN
- 2198-3844 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC10987147
- OpenAlex
- W4391145069
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 4
- FWCI
- 2.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Advanced Science (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- EPub Bayreuth (University of Bayreuth) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (KE 756/35-1)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Polymer crystallization and properties
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Advanced Polymer Synthesis and Characterization
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
- Keywords
- low-density polyethylene, long-chain branched polyethylene, coordinative chain transfer polymerization, depolymerization, closed-loop recycling, plastic recycling, ethylene polymerization, comonomers
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