A class of polyesters considered a promising alternative to common plastics, were it not for limitations like brittleness and thermal instability, have now been made more mechanically tough and thermally stable.
- Researchers replaced the reactive hydrogens in the monomer of these materials – polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) plastics – and found it enhanced PHA thermal and mechanical properties and enabled closed-loop chemical recyclability.
- PHAs, or Polyhyroxyalkanoates, are bio-derived polymers that are biodegradable at end of life (EOL).
- They are also referred to as natural polyesters.
