Polymer research shows potential replacement for common superglues with a reusable and biodegradable alternative

Good news! 

However, biodegradable makes me a bit doubtful! This is probably the least desirable property in a superglue.

"Researchers have developed an adhesive polymer that is stronger than current commercially available options while also being biodegradable, tunable, and reusable. The findings show how the common, naturally occurring polymer P3HB can be chemically re-engineered for use as a strong yet sustainable bonding agent."

"... how the common, naturally occurring polymer P3HB can be chemically re-engineered for use as a strong yet sustainable bonding agent.  ...

poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), or P3HB, is a natural, biobased and biodegradable polymer that can be produced by microbes under the right biological conditions. While the polymer is not adhesive when made that way, his lab was able to chemically re-engineer its structure to now deliver stronger adhesion than the common petroleum-derived, nonbiodegradable options when used on various substrates or surfaces such as aluminum, glass and wood. The adhesion strength of the re-engineered P3HB can also be tuned to accommodate different application needs. ..."

From the editor's summary and abstract:

"Editor’s summary

From tapes to glues, adhesives are used in a wide range of applications and situations. Most are typically petroleum-based thermoset networks or nonbiodegradable thermoplastic hot melts. Zhang et al. used a set of yttrium-, lanthanum-, and phosphorus-based catalysts to synthesize a series of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) polymers (P3HBs) with different molecular weights, microstructures, and tacticities. Amorphous polymers tend to be stickier but also weaker, whereas crystalline ones are poor at flowing and filling surface irregularities, which is key to forming a strong bond. The authors found that semicrystalline syndio-rich P3HB not only provides the best adhesion, but can also outperform many commercial alternatives. Because P3HBs are able to be produced by bacteria and can be biodegradable, it may be possible to produce these adhesives in a sustainable way. —Marc S. Lavine

Abstract

Commercial adhesives are petroleum-based thermoset networks or nonbiodegradable thermoplastic hot melts, making them ideal targets for replacement by biodegradable alternatives. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB) is a biorenewable and biodegradable alternative to conventional plastics, but microbial P3HB, which has a stereoperfect stereomicrostructure, exhibits no adhesion. In this study, by elucidating the fundamental relationship between chemocatalytically engineered P3HB stereomicrostructures and adhesion properties, we found that biodegradable syndio-rich P3HB exhibits high adhesion strength and outperforms common commercial adhesives, whereas syndiotactic, isotactic, or iso-rich P3HB shows no measurable adhesion. The syndio-rich stereomicrostructure brings about desired thermomechanical and viscoelastic properties of P3HB that enable strong adhesion to a range of substrates tested, including aluminum, steel, glass, and wood, and its performance is insensitive to molar mass and reprocessing or reuse."

Polymer research shows potential replacement for common superglues with a reusable and biodegradable alternative | ScienceDaily

Polymer research shows potential replacement for common superglues with a reusable and biodegradable alternative (original news release)

Stereomicrostructure-regulated biodegradable adhesives (no public access)

Found on the Internet