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Cited by 483biodegradable polymer synthesis and propertiesPolymer composites and self-healingPolymer crystallization and properties

Chemically recyclable thermoplastics from reversible-deactivation polymerization of cyclic acetals

Abel, Brooks A., Snyder, Rachel L., Coates, Geoffrey W.·2021·Science
DOI 10.1126/science.abh0626
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Abstract

Tough recyclable polyacetals: Cyclic acetals such as dioxolane are appealing building blocks for recyclable plastics but have proven to be difficult to polymerize controllably. Abel et al . show that optimal pairing of a bromomethyl ether and indium or zinc Lewis acid produces polydioxolane with high tensile strength that may be advantageous for packaging applications. Heating this plastic in strong acid easily breaks it back down to its acetal monomer, which can then be recovered by distillation from mixed plastic waste streams in high yield. —JSY

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Crossref · 10.1126/science.abh0626

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References 55 · Cited by 483

Authors
Abel, B. A., Snyder, R. L., & Coates, G. W.
Affiliations
Cornell University (US)
Corresponding author
  • Abel, Brooks A.
  • Snyder, Rachel L.
  • Coates, Geoffrey W.
ORCID
Venue
Science
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Published
2021-08-13
Volume
373
Issue
6556
Pages
783-789
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
DOI
10.1126/science.abh0626
OpenAlex
W3191870946
Cited by
483
References
55
Citations by year
2026: 62 · 2025: 119 · 2024: 95 · 2023: 109 · 2022: 92 · 2021: 6
FWCI
19.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
  • OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • U.S. Department of Energy (Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR), an Energy Innovation Hub)
  • National Science Foundation (DMR-1719875, CHE-1531632)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Polymer composites and self-healing
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Polymer crystallization and properties
Keywords
chemical recycling, cyclic acetals, polyoxymethylene, poly(1,3-dioxolane), cationic ring-opening polymerization, acid-catalyzed depolymerization, thermoplastics, plastic waste, circular economy, tensile strength

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