Sustainable ABA triblock methacrylate copolymers incorporating both high and low Tg terpene-derived monomers

Atkinson, Rachel L.; Elsmore, Matthew; Smith, Sean; Reynolds-Green, Morgan; Topham, Paul D.; Toolan, Daniel T.W.; Derry, Matthew J.; Monaghan, Olivia; Taresco, Vincenzo; Irvine, Derek J.; Stockman, Robert A.; De Focatiis, Davide S.A.; Howdle, Steven M.

Abstract

We report the synthesis of novel terpene-based monomers: nopinyl acrylate and methacrylate, from naturally abundant β-pinene. A very high Tg value was observed for poly(nopinyl methacrylate) when synthesised by free radical polymerisation, and well-defined polymers have been produced via RAFT polymerisation. This exciting new high Tg material shows promise as a hard block in thermoplastic elastomers. ABA triblock copolymers have been synthesised which also incorporate a low Tg renewable soft block, poly(tetrahydrogeraniol methacrylate), using a divergent, difunctional RAFT polymerisation method. Initial phase separation behaviour and adhesive properties have been investigated to highlight the potential of these copolymer materials as renewably sourced thermoplastic elastomers.

Citation

Atkinson, R. L., Elsmore, M., Smith, S., Reynolds-Green, M., Topham, P. D., Toolan, D. T., …Howdle, S. M. (2022). Sustainable ABA triblock methacrylate copolymers incorporating both high and low Tg terpene-derived monomers. European Polymer Journal, 179, Article 11567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2022.111567

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 5, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Sep 16, 2022
• Publication Date: Oct 5, 2022
• Deposit Date: Sep 28, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 17, 2024
• Journal: European Polymer Journal
• Print ISSN: 0014-3057
• Electronic ISSN: 1873-1945
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 179
• Article Number: 11567
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2022.111567
• Keywords: Organic Chemistry; Polymers and Plastics; General Physics and Astronomy; Materials Chemistry
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/11749904
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0014305722005717?via%3Dihub