Furfural-Based Modification of PET for UV-Blocking Copolymers with Decreased Oxygen Permeability

2,2′-Bifuran-5,5′-dicarboxylic acid (BFDCA), a highly promising biobased diacid monomer, was used to modify poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) obtain copolyesters with increased biocarbon content and improved properties compared PET. Antimony-catalyzed copolymerization of the bifuran terephthalate 2-hydroxyethyl esters afford PETBF copolymers. When against PET, these random copolymers 5, 10, or 15 mol % comonomer in feed (relative total amount starting esters) showed slightly elevated glass transition range, higher tensile moduli, enhanced oxygen gas barrier properties, superior UV blocking while maintaining good transparency otherwise. Based on our results, seem have promise as materials that are desirable advanced packaging applications.