Designed to Degrade: Tailoring Polyesters for Circularity
KTH Royal Institute of Technology · University of Bologna · +1 more institution
Abstract
A powerful toolbox is needed to turn the linear plastic economy into circular. Development of materials designed for mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, and/or biodegradation in targeted end-of-life environment are all necessary puzzle pieces in this process. Polyesters, with reversible ester bonds, are already forerunners in plastic circularity: poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is the most recycled plastic material suitable for mechanical and chemical recycling, while common aliphatic polyesters are biodegradable under favorable conditions, such as industrial compost. However, this circular design needs to be further tailored for different end-of-life options to enable chemical recycling under greener…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 20.12
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 287
Authors
5Topics & keywords
- Polyester
- Biodegradation
- Chemistry
- Circular economy
- Degradation (telecommunications)
- Polymer science
- Polymer
- Organic chemistry