Poly(limonene carbonate) (PLimC) has a huge potential as a sustainable biobased polymer due to its promising property profile and the availability of the raw materials from nonedible resources, i.e., limonene from orange peel. PLimC and related terpene-based polycarbonates have not been processed from the melt state successfully due to their comparably low decomposition temperatures. Indeed, melt-processed PLimC samples are brittle and colorized. To change the paradigm, we have investigated compounds of PLimC with biobased ethyl oleate (EtOL). The glass transition temperature (T_g) and melt viscosity of these compounds can be readily controlled by the EtOL content. The melt-processed PLimC/EtOL compounds showed improved mechanical properties without significant loss in optical properties as compared to neat PLimC. Interestingly, the PLimC/EtOL compounds could be melt-processed a second time without significant loss of mechanical and optical properties, which could mark an important step toward recyclability.

中文翻译：

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释放生物基聚碳酸亚柠檬酯的加工性和可回收性

聚碳酸亚柠檬酯（PLimC）具有广阔的潜力，因为它具有令人鼓舞的性能，并且可以从不可食用的资源中获得原料，例如橙皮中的柠檬烯，具有可持续发展的生物基聚合物的潜力。由于PLimC和相关的萜烯基聚碳酸酯的分解温度较低，因此尚未成功从熔融态进行加工。实际上，熔融加工的PLimC样品易碎且着色。为了更改范例，我们研究了PLimC与生物基油酸乙酯（EtOL）的化合物。玻璃化温度（T _g）和这些化合物的熔体粘度可以通过EtOL含量轻松控制。与纯PLimC相比，经熔融加工的PLimC / EtOL化合物显示出改善的机械性能，而光学性能没有明显损失。有趣的是，PLimC / EtOL化合物可以进行第二次熔融加工而不会显着降低机械和光学性能，这可能标志着迈向可回收性的重要一步。