CHAPTER 7. Carbon Dioxide Copolymer From Delicate Metal Catalyst: New Structure Leading to Practical Performance

Abstract

This Chapter gives an overview of the advanced catalysis of CO2/epoxide copolymerization and the unique material properties of the resulting copolymers. Emphasis is placed on the hope of CO2 based copolymers, i.e. the poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) family, including high-molecular-weight copolymers with alternative structures for the biodegradable plastics industry and low-molecular-weight CO2 polyols with non-alternative structures as new building blocks in the polyurethane industry. Delicate catalyst design for the copolymerization of CO2 and other functionalized epoxides, and multicomponent CO2 based copolymers with diversity are also briefly discussed.