Rapidly making biodegradable and recyclable paper plastic based on microwave radiation driven dynamic carbamate chemistry

Xinxin Yang, Le Yu, Bowen Zhang, Yongheng Wang, Xiangzheng Jia, Erlantz Lizundia, Chang Chen, Fuhao Dong, Luhe Qi, Lu Chen, Enlai Gao (), Xu Xu (), He Liu () and Chaoji Chen ()
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Xinxin Yang: Nanjing Forestry University
Le Yu: Wuhan University
Bowen Zhang: Chinese Academy of Forestry
Yongheng Wang: Wuhan University
Xiangzheng Jia: Wuhan University
Erlantz Lizundia: University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)
Chang Chen: Huazhong Agricultural University
Fuhao Dong: Chinese Academy of Forestry
Luhe Qi: Wuhan University
Lu Chen: Wuhan University
Enlai Gao: Wuhan University
Xu Xu: Nanjing Forestry University
He Liu: Chinese Academy of Forestry
Chaoji Chen: Wuhan University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract In response to the looming concerns of plastic pollution, replacing plastic with paper is a very promising way, but its realization seems a long way off due to the poor water resistance and unsatisfied mechanical strength of cellulose fibril-based materials. Herein, we develop a versatile functionalizing material consisting of mainly biobased cyclic carbonate-bearing compounds and amine compound, which can enable the rapid transformation (within 2 min under microwave radiation) of the cellulose paper into plastic-like material (named paper plastic) having an unprecedently high tensile strength of ~126 MPa. Through a systematic experimental and theoretical study, the paper plastic’s combination of excellent mechanical properties and water/solvent resistance is attributed to the easy formation of carbamate abundant non-isocyanate polyurethane cooperated with the intermolecular bond exchange mechanism between the dynamic carbamate moiety and hydroxyl of the cellulose. Also, benefiting from the high content (>80%) and natural advantages of biobased materials, the paper plastic shows significant thermal stability, processability, and biodegradability than most petrochemical-based plastics, promising the great potential of dynamic carbamate chemistry toward high-performing paper plastic composites.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61722-0

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