Balance Among Biodegradability, Thermal and Mechanical Properties of CO2-Derived Polymers

Abstract

Research into biodegradable polymers, driven by environmental imperatives, has progressed significantly. The copolymerization of CO₂ and epoxides produces poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC), which exhibits favorable biodegradability but suffers from poor thermomechanical properties. To address this, recent studies have incorporated rigid monomers or crystalline segments into such copolymerizations, generating a diverse range of CO₂-derived copolymers with enhanced thermal and mechanical performance. However, their degradation profiles remain insufficiently characterized. In this study, we selected several representative CO₂-derived copolymers, recently synthesized by our group, to systematically investigate the structure-property relationship. We evaluated their biodegradability through a series of tests, including biodegradation rate analysis, compost disintegration, and seed germination assays. These polymers, developed by our research team, offer advantages such as low cost, tunable properties, broad applicability, and environmental compatibility. They are thus promising candidates for introducing new materials into the biodegradable plastics market.

Keywords

CO2 utilization / Polycarbonate / Polyester / Copolymerization / Biodegradable / Biodegradation rate

Acknowledgments

The authors extend gratitude to the Collaborative Innovation Center for NQI-Quality Safety of Guangzhou (No. 2023B04J0407) and Guangzhou Academician and Expert Workstation (No. 2024-D012).

Statement of the Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in the Writing Process

During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used Deepseek in order to translation and polishing of expressions. After using this tool, the authors reviewed and edited the content as needed and take full responsibility for the content of the published article.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, Y.R. and M.X.; Methodology Y.R. and X.Z.; Validation, D.H., S.H. and S.W.; Investigation, Y.R.; Resources, M.X.; Data Curation, D.H.; Writing—Original Draft Preparation, Y.R.; Writing—Review & Editing, X.Z. and M.X.; Funding Acquisition, M.X.

Ethics Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Collaborative Innovation Center for NQI-Quality Safety of Guangzhou (No. 2023B04J0407) and Guangzhou Academician and Expert Workstation (No. 2024-D012).

Declaration of Competing Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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