Harnessing the Diversity of Biomass in the Design of Performance-Advantaged, Polymeric Materials

Lignocellulosic biomass, particularly the lignin fraction, is an attractive source of diverse, abundant, and inexpensive precursors for macromolecular design. Traditionally, petroleum-based products are designed with functionality being added as needed. Bio-derived molecules, on the other hand, have built-in functionality, which can be exploited to design novel materials with enhanced performance and reduced environmental impact. Bisguaiacols, such as the newly-developed bisguaiacol A (BGA) – an entirely bio-based, methoxy-substituted analogue to bisphenol A (BPA), are robust and potentially safer components for the design of polymeric systems with enhanced properties. We have utilized molecular docking studies to examine the estrogenic activity of these BPA analogues, establishing structure-active relationships. These studies inform application-specific design of polymeric systems – thermoplastics and thermosets. We highlight the design and manufacturing of non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs) from lignin-derivable bisguaiacols, exploring the role of hydrogen-bonding character on mechanical performance and assembly. As an example, NIPUs display strain-rate dependent mechanics due to the tailorable methoxy functionality of the precursors. We extend this molecular design to acrylate networks and other crosslinked polymers, balancing network architecture and performance characteristics and applying this understading to various form factors. These examples explore the inclusion of diverse lignin sources, synthesis of sustainable building blocks, macromolecular design and characterization, and manufacturing of ‘green’ polymers for a diverse set of applications.