Chemically decomposable imine-based thermoset using oxidized sugar

Increasing environmental concerns have driven the pursuit of sustainable alternatives to petrochemical-based plastics in polymer chemistry. In this study, we demonstrated a method by which sugar, the most chemically produced biomass, can be used as a thermosetting resin. The sucrose was successfully oxidized, synthesized, and then incorporated into a resin. Sodium periodate (NaIO₄) was used to convert sucrose into chemical raw materials. The resulting polymer, prepared via the imine reaction, exhibited a glass transition temperature T_g of 96°C, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry. Additionally, the thermosetting resin exhibited a tensile strength of 7 MPa, a modulus of 515 MPa, and a T_g of 100°C. We obtained reaction rate constants of 0.7 × 10⁻³ h⁻¹ and 3.2 × 10⁻¹ h⁻¹ using THF and citric acid solutions, respectively. Furthermore, we reused the resin from the decomposed organic matter and confirmed that the resynthesized overall, our findings suggest the potential for green recycling by converting commonly used sugars into nature-derived raw materials, leading to the development of eco-friendly polymer synthesis.