Steven K. Henning
Total Petrochemical & Refining USA, Inc., USA
Title: The synthesis and characterization of farnesene-based polyols
Biography
Biography: Steven K. Henning
Abstract
A bio-based route to the production of trans-β-farnesene has recently been commercialized. Trans-β-farnesene is capable of being polymerized by both anionic and cationic pathways, creating low molecular weight polymers with structure-property relationships unique within the diene class of monomers.
Trans-β-farnesene is produced through fermentation of sugar feedstocks. The pathway offers an alternative to petroleum-based feedstocks derived from cracking processes. Anionic polymerization of the monomer produces a highly branched "bottle-brush" structure, with rheological and thermal properties that are markedly different than those of traditional linear diene polymers. Specifically, a lack of entanglements is observed even at relatively high molar masses.
The synthesis and characterization of trans-β-farnesene-based polymers will be presented, including anionically prepared low molecular weight diols and monols. Their utility as novel polyols in various end-use applications such as prepolymers for polyurethane synthesis will be reviewed.
