Emulsion and controlled miniemulsion polymerization of the renewable monomer γ‐methyl‐α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactone |
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| Authors: | Genggeng Qi Michael Nolan F Joseph Schork Christopher W Jones |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332;2. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742 |
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| Abstract: | The kinetics of free‐radical emulsion polymerization of γ‐methyl‐α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactone (MeMBL), a renewable monomer related to methyl methacrylate, are presented in detail for the first time, and stable polymer latices are prepared. The effects of different reaction parameters on free‐radical emulsion polymerization of MeMBL are presented. Homogeneous nucleation is asserted to be the dominant path for particle formation. Miniemulsion copolymerization of MeMBL and styrene is also reported. In this case, the homogeneous nucleation process appears limited when using an oil soluble initiator. Both the RAFT miniemulsion polymerizations and RAFT bulk polymerizations are well controlled and narrow polydispersity copolymers are produced. Rate retardation is observed in the RAFT miniemulsion polymerizations compared with the free‐radical polymerization and RAFT bulk polymerizations and the possible causes of the retardation are discussed. The reactivity ratios of MeMBL and styrene in RAFT bulk copolymerization are also determined. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5929–5944, 2008 |
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| Keywords: | biomass copolymerization dispersed polymerization emulsion polymerization levulinic acid living polymerization RAFT renewable chemical renewable resources |
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