Synthesis of new bio-based polycarbonates derived from terpene

In this work, a bio-based polycarbonate has been synthesized successfully from terpene diphenol and diphenyl carbonate by melt polymerization without using any catalysts. The polymerization process involves no usage of toxic phosgene. The reaction parameters such as monomer feed ratio, polymerization temperature and time have been systematically examined. A little excess of diphenyl carbonate for terpene diphenol affords the highest molecular weight. The chemical structure of the product is identified by 1H NMR and FT-IR. The DSC analysis shows that the glass transition temperature of the present bio-based polycarbonate is much higher than that of a conventional bisphenol A-based polycarbonate due to the rigid molecular structure of terpene diphenol. In addition, a series of copolycarbonates with adjustable glass transition temperature are prepared from terpene diphenol and bisphenol A. The present polycarbonate and copolycarbonates with high thermal stability synthesized via an environmental benign process have large potential for bio-based engineering plastics in various industrial fields.