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Syringic-Based Copolyesters for Oxygen-Rich Low-Temperature Hot-Melt Adhesives: Synthesis, Adhesion Properties, and Enzymatic Depolymerization

Nguyen, Tam T. LU ; Huertas-Díaz, Carlos ; Linares-Pastén, Javier A. LU orcid ; Jannasch, Patric LU orcid and Zhang, Baozhong LU (2026) In ACS Applied Polymer Materials 8(8). p.5517-5529
Abstract
Biobased polyesters are emerging as sustainable alternatives for hot-melt adhesives (HMAs) owing to their tunable adhesion properties, facile processing, and versatile end-of-life options. Here, we report on the design of low-temperature (100 °C) HMAs, derived from oxygen-rich lignin-based copolyesters synthesized via copolymerization of a syringic acid-derived aromatic monomer with biobased aliphatic monomers, adipic acid, and 1,4-butanediol. Copolyesters containing more than 60 mol % syringic units exhibited high adhesion to paper and various metal substrates, achieving a peak strength of ∼5.4 MPa on aluminum. After use, the adhesive can be easily removed with some acetone, enabling convenient debonding and surface cleaning. Enzymatic... (More)
Biobased polyesters are emerging as sustainable alternatives for hot-melt adhesives (HMAs) owing to their tunable adhesion properties, facile processing, and versatile end-of-life options. Here, we report on the design of low-temperature (100 °C) HMAs, derived from oxygen-rich lignin-based copolyesters synthesized via copolymerization of a syringic acid-derived aromatic monomer with biobased aliphatic monomers, adipic acid, and 1,4-butanediol. Copolyesters containing more than 60 mol % syringic units exhibited high adhesion to paper and various metal substrates, achieving a peak strength of ∼5.4 MPa on aluminum. After use, the adhesive can be easily removed with some acetone, enabling convenient debonding and surface cleaning. Enzymatic depolymerization using Humicola insolens cutinase (HiCut) at 70 °C showed a decreasing depolymerization rate as the aromatic syringic content increased. This observation was further rationalized through molecular docking simulations of representative aliphatic and aromatic chain segments. These findings demonstrate a viable approach for developing HMAs from oxygen-rich syringic acid that achieve a balance between performance and biodegradability. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
ACS Applied Polymer Materials
volume
8
issue
8
pages
13 pages
publisher
The American Chemical Society (ACS)
ISSN
2637-6105
DOI
10.1021/acsapm.5c04685
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1072f164-c55c-43b0-b9ea-b0706f99789f
date added to LUP
2025-12-13 12:50:00
date last changed
2026-04-29 13:58:46
@article{1072f164-c55c-43b0-b9ea-b0706f99789f,
  abstract     = {{Biobased polyesters are emerging as sustainable alternatives for hot-melt adhesives (HMAs) owing to their tunable adhesion properties, facile processing, and versatile end-of-life options. Here, we report on the design of low-temperature (100 °C) HMAs, derived from oxygen-rich lignin-based copolyesters synthesized via copolymerization of a syringic acid-derived aromatic monomer with biobased aliphatic monomers, adipic acid, and 1,4-butanediol. Copolyesters containing more than 60 mol % syringic units exhibited high adhesion to paper and various metal substrates, achieving a peak strength of ∼5.4 MPa on aluminum. After use, the adhesive can be easily removed with some acetone, enabling convenient debonding and surface cleaning. Enzymatic depolymerization using <i>Humicola insolens</i> cutinase (HiCut) at 70 °C showed a decreasing depolymerization rate as the aromatic syringic content increased. This observation was further rationalized through molecular docking simulations of representative aliphatic and aromatic chain segments. These findings demonstrate a viable approach for developing HMAs from oxygen-rich syringic acid that achieve a balance between performance and biodegradability.}},
  author       = {{Nguyen, Tam T. and Huertas-Díaz, Carlos and Linares-Pastén, Javier A. and Jannasch, Patric and Zhang, Baozhong}},
  issn         = {{2637-6105}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  number       = {{8}},
  pages        = {{5517--5529}},
  publisher    = {{The American Chemical Society (ACS)}},
  series       = {{ACS Applied Polymer Materials}},
  title        = {{Syringic-Based Copolyesters for Oxygen-Rich Low-Temperature Hot-Melt Adhesives: Synthesis, Adhesion Properties, and Enzymatic Depolymerization}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.5c04685}},
  doi          = {{10.1021/acsapm.5c04685}},
  volume       = {{8}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}