Copolymerization of methyl esters of unsaturated C₁₈ fatty acids

Abstract

In order to assay the possibilities of making high polymers from linseed oil, the copolymerizations of styrene with the methyl esters of oleic, linoleic, linolenic, and conjugated linolenic acids were studied at 60舑130C and copolymerizations of the last three esters with acrylonitrile were studied at 60C. Appropriate free radical initiators were employed in all cases. The esters without conjugated unsaturation show little tendency to enter a copolymer with styrene, but copolymers containing up to 40% by weight of conjugated linoleate can be obtained. Linoleic, linolenic, and conjugated linoleic esters copolymerize readily with acrylonitrile. Products containing up to 45 mole %, 80 wt %, of the conjugated ester can be made. However, methyl eleostearate, with three conjugated double bonds, inhibits the polymerization of both styrene and acrylonitrile. Quantitative comparisons of the behaviors of the esters are made through the copolymerization equation. The probable performance of these and other vinyl monomers in copolymerization with linseed oil is discussed.

Free Radical Polymerization Behavior of the Vinyl Monomers from Plant Oil Triglycerides

“…It can be seen that the initiator reaction order increases with an increasing degree of monomer unsaturation. In fact, the effects of unsaturation in fatty monomers on the susceptibility to undergoing chain transfer reactions during their polymerization has been discussed in the literature. ,− However, there are no detailed reports on the quantitative determination of the retardation effect of isolated fatty double bonds in monomers or on how this effect impacts polymer structure and properties.…”

Copolymerizations of esters and glycerides of unsaturated C18 fatty acids with ethyl acrylate and acrylonitrile

“…This work is a continuation of research previously reported (9) which described the eopolymerization of styrene or aerylonitrile with the methyl esters of oleic, linoleie, conjugated linoleic, linolenie, and e]eostearie acids with free radical initiators at 60-I30C. Acrylonitrile has considerably greater tendency than styrene to copolymerize, and conjugated methyl linoleate is more reactive than the uneonjugated esters.…”