Project

HIPPIE: developing high performance polymers based on isoidide

The HIPPIE project studies the development of high performance polymers based on isoidide. Isoidide is seen as a promising building block for the Biobased Economy. For a cost-effective production of biobased plastics based on isoidide, however, the substance will need to be produced on a large scale.

Isoidide is an interesting feedstock for a wide range of polyesters. This symmetrical and thermally stable monomer can be produced from sugar, which is one of the reasons why it is an interesting building block for biobased products. Polymers based on isoidide can be used for packaging or building materials as well as applications in the electronics or automotive sectors.

Basis for polyesters

The focus in the project is mainly on the synthesis of polyesters from isoidide. These polyesters will be made on such a scale that they can be used to perform a wide range of (thermal, mechanical and rheological) analyses, allowing the industrial partners to determine possible suitable applications and markets.

The project is a collaboration of Wageningen Food & Biobased Research and the companies Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), DuPont and Holland Colours.