Comparison of the properties of bioderived polycarbonate and traditional bisphenol-A polycarbonate

Abstract The bioderived polycarbonate (ISB-PC) was synthesized via transesterification and polycondensation of isosorbide (ISB) and diphenyl carbonate (DPC), using lithium acetoacetone as catalyst. The resulting ISB-PC exhibited high glass transition temperatures similaring to bisphenol A polycarbonate (BPA-PC), and were thermally stable up to 350 ℃. The incorporation of isosorbitol into the polymer chain imparted an improved mechanical property of ISB-PC, such as a higher bending and tensile modulus and higher elongation at break. The ISB-PC can be readily cast into transparent films with a tensile strength of 73.3 MPa and a tensile modulu of 534 MPa. The ISB-PC displayed a highly UV transmittance and possessed a blue uorescence under the UV irradiation. At the same time, ISB-PC also has strong anti-yellowing ability.