Copolyesters developed from bio-based 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid: Synthesis, sequence distribution, mechanical, and barrier properties of poly(propylene-co-1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate)s

A series of poly(propylene- co -1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate)s (PPCFs) with different compositions were synthesized from bio-based aromatic monomer 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and 1,3-propanediol (PDO), along with 1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene (CHDM). The chemical structure, composition, and sequence distribution of PPCFs were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR and 13 C NMR). Results showed that the compositions of copolyesters depended on the feed molar ratio of PDO and CHDM, and all the obtained PPCFs copolyesters had triad component in a random sequential structure. With the addition of CHDM, the gas barrier properties of poly(propylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PPF) deteriorated. However, when the content of CHDM reached 79%, PPCF79 still showed the CO 2 and O 2 barrier improvement factor of 4.5 and 3.25, respectively, which were better than those of poly(ethylene naphthalate), a well-known polymer with barrier property. Besides, PPCF79 showed good performance on tensile modulus, tensile strength, elongation at break, and the crystallization enthalpy was improved from 3.2 J g −1 for PPF to 30.7 J g −1 for PPCF79. It has the potential to serve as a promising bio-based polymer with excellent comprehensive performance. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136 , 47291.