From the synthesis and characterization of methacrylated fatty acids based precursors to shape memory polymers

CAPIEL, GUILLERMINA; CAPIEL, GUILLERMINA; MOSIEWICKI, MIRNA A; MOSIEWICKI, MIRNA A; MARCOVICH, NORMA E; MARCOVICH, NORMA E

POLYMER INTERNATIONAL

JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2018 vol. 68 p. 546 - 554

0959-8103

Fatty acid based monomers have been synthesized by a one step reaction from oleic orlauric acids andglycidyl methacrylateto be later used in polymer formulations. Different times of reaction, amount of catalyst and initial ratio of reactives were evaluated, obtaining conversions higher than 0.9 for the best conditions. The obtained monomers are interesting alternatives to the synthetics ones since they combine low cost with environmental advantages (i.e. higher bio-carbon content). These polymeric precursors were reacted separately in cationic and free radical polymerizations with styrene (50 wt.%) to evaluate their potential as greener monomers. The lauric acid monomer and the free radical polymerization were the alternatives that produced the elastomeric materials with higher glass transition temperatures and storage moduli. These facts were related to the less plasticizing effect of the shorter fatty acid chain, in comparison with that of the oleic acid based monomer, and to a lower free volume in the formed structure during curing. Moreover, all the obtained polymers exhibited shape memory properties that can be activated by temperature changes.