Characterization and Polymerization of Epoxidized Methacrylated Castor Oil

In this study, synthesis and polymerization of epoxidized methacrylated castor oil (EMETCO) was demonstrated. EMETCO was synthesized in two step. Castor oil (CO) was methacrylated with methacryloyl chloride at the first step. Then the methacrylated castor oil (METCO) was epoxidized by Prilezhaev reaction. Structure of EMETCO was determined by 1H NMR and IR techniques. EMETCO was copolymerized with acrylic acid (AA), styrene (ST) and methacrylic acid (MA). Thermal and mechanical properties of the synthesized polymers were evaluated. Among the polymers synthesized EMETCO‐ST‐MA polymer gave the highest storage modulus at 2.25 GPa. On the other hand, EMETCO‐AA copolymer exhibited the lowest storage modulus at 350 MPa. Moreover, EMETCO‐ST copolymer showed the lowest 5 % weight loss temperature while EMETCO‐MA exhibited the highest 5 % weight loss temperature at 280 °C.Practical applications: Epoxidized Methacrylated Castor Oil is a bio‐based epoxy acrylate monomer. The low viscosity and two different functional group makes this material suitable for many polymerization reactions and applications. This compound would be used as a replacement materials for many industrial monomers such as styrene, acrylated epoxidized soybean oil or prepolymers in the future.
Source: European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology - Category: Lipidology Authors: Tags: Research Article Source Type: research