Corn (sugars) based polymer chemistries for the plastics industry

Corn (sugars) may be viewed as a chemical feedstock to produce new monomers, polymers and additives for the commercial plastics industry. Corn based chemicals are attractive because they as generally regarded as safe (GRAS), are a renewable resource and can be made readily available. Interest is focused on isosorbide which offers molecular geometry and chemical functionality compatible with many existing commercial plastics and plastics additives. Applications ranging from the creation of new polymer backbones for use as thermoplastics or thermosets to the identification of low molar mass compounds that can act as plasticizers, stabilizers or compatiblizers are under investigation. Of special interest is the impact of asymmetric reactivity, chirality and controlled stereochemistry in the design and performance of new, cost-effective structures with commercial potential. As petroleum becomes more expensive and the assurance of long range, cost-effective supply questionable, creation of alternative chemistries from renewable resources such a corn (glucose) becomes more attractive.