Synthesis and characterization of polyesters from renewable cardol

Abstract

The preparation and thermal characteristics of new polyesters from cardol, a renewable monomer obtained as a by-product of the cashew industry, are reported. Cardol - a diol component of the natural product cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) was isolated and reacted with adipoyl chloride and terephthaloyl chloride in a 1:1 molar ratio in hexane and toluene as solvents at 170 °C under nitrogen atmosphere. The cardol based polyesters [poly(cardyl adipate) and poly(cardyl terephthalate)] were produced in good yields of up to 63 and 54%, respectively. The polymers were analysed by FT-IR for functional groups elucidation and by combined thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for thermal stability. The cardol-based polyesters were thermally stable up to about 400 °C. The thermal stability of poly(cardyl terephthalate) was higher than that of poly(cardyl adipate) under similar conditions. All prepared polyesters were insoluble in common laboratory solvents at room temperature.

KEY WORDS: Cashew nut shell liquid, Cardol, Polyesters, Renewable polymers

Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2016, 30(2), 273-282.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v30i2.11