Biodegradable hydrophobic polyurethanes for moisture barrier coatings and extrusion
Novel biodegradable polyurethanes combining algae or vegetable oil–derived soft segments with crystalline urethane/urea hard segments. Available as dry TPU resin for coextrusion or as water-borne polyurethane dispersion for barrier coatings, offering strong moisture resistance with environmental degradability.
Overview
This technology delivers highly hydrophobic, biodegradable polyurethanes designed to replace conventional petroleum-based barrier materials. By combining long-chain alkyl soft segments derived from algae or vegetable oil with highly crystalline urethane or urea hard segments, the polymers achieve a microphase-separated morphology in which a continuous hydrophobic phase provides excellent moisture barrier performance. The materials can be supplied as dry thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) resin for coextrusion processes or as water-borne polyurethane dispersions for barrier coating applications, giving manufacturers flexible integration options across packaging, paper, and film industries.
Technical specifications
- Renewable soft segments built from polyester polyols based on azelaic acid sourced from algae oil, enabling biodegradability without sacrificing performance.
- Crystalline hard segments formed from aromatic diisocyanates and selected commercial monomers to drive microphase separation and create a hydrophobic continuous phase.
- Tunable hydrophobicity achieved by varying hydrocarbon segment length, with demonstrated increases in coating water resistance while preserving biodegradability.
- Two delivery formats: dry TPU resin suitable for coextrusion with conventional polyolefin processing equipment, and water-borne polyurethane dispersions for coating applications.
- Film-forming capability allows standalone use or combination with other biodegradable coating systems.
- Quantitative validation methods in place for moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) measurement and in-house biodegradation evaluation.
- Leveraged infrastructure including $3M of ongoing DOE-supported polyurethane degradation research at UC San Diego.
Technology readiness level
The polyurethane platform has been validated through synthesis of multiple thermoplastic and thermoset formulations from algae-derived polyester polyols, with successful biodegradation confirmed. Early studies have demonstrated that increasing hydrocarbon segment length raises hydrophobicity with minimal impact on biodegradability, though the full scope of this relationship remains under investigation. Future work will systematically screen hydrocarbon-based diols of varying chain lengths, optimize hard-segment architecture, measure MVTR on prepared films, and evaluate biodegradation using established in-house protocols. The technology is at an early-to-mid stage of development, ready for collaborative optimization and application-specific validation with industry partners.
About University of California, San Diego
UC San Diego is a comprehensive public research university in La Jolla, anchored by an integrated academic health system. On the east campus, the 23‑acre Science Research Park co‑locates corporate R&D with university programs and connects to the health sciences district, enabling daily interaction among scientists, clinicians, and companies. The Jacobs School’s Corporate Affiliates Program provides structured engagement and recruiting, while the Office of Innovation & Commercialization supports IP, licensing, and startup formation. The research enterprise is sustained by competitive federal funding, with recent awards exceeding $1.7B annually. Established commercialization pathways streamline sponsored research and help partners move from proof of concept to deployment.
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