1. Conventional A-B polymer — designed for performance
A conventional polymer alternates two building blocks: A-B-A-B-A. It is bioorthogonal by design, which is precisely why it works. High durability and performance, excellent resistance to wear and tear — and, as a direct consequence, environmental persistence and limited end-of-life options.
2. A-B-C polymer — introducing a biocongruent unit
The biocongruent approach introduces a third unit into the same matrix: A-B-A-C-B-A. The C unit is derived from renewable feedstocks and contains motifs compatible with natural degradation pathways, so the material maintains its performance while gaining environmental compatibility.
The same effect can be achieved with a pendant group rather than a backbone unit — A-B-A-B-A carrying a biobased Cʹ side chain. This preserves the original backbone entirely while still presenting recognisable motifs to the environment.
- C units (backbone): vegetable oils, lignins, cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), silicone rubber in place of EPDM
- Cʹ pendant units: vegetable oil-derived side chains, lignin-derived functional groups, sugar-based side groups and other biobased moieties
The additives MCPU works with
- Soy-additive — a vegetable oil-derived unit used both as a backbone contributor and as a pendant modifier.
- Phosphorylated soy-additive — the same platform carrying phosphorus, which supplies flame-retardant performance alongside the biocongruent motif.
- Lignin-additive — a branched, aromatic biobased unit for rigid systems.
- Silicone (PDMS) in place of EPDM — an abiotic biocongruent route where hydrolysis provides the breakdown pathway.
The three-step method
A. Keep the backbone. Your existing fossil-based polymer matrix (A-B) stays intact — same process, same equipment, same supply chain.
B. Add the biocongruent unit. Soy, lignin or silicone-derived additives (C or Cʹ) introduce motifs that microbes and enzymes actually recognise. The point is a coherent synthetic scheme, not a monstrous hybrid.
C. Tune, don’t trade off. Concentration and placement of the additive are tuned so that service life, physical properties and fire resistance hold, while end-of-life circularity goes up.