Straightforward Synthetic Protocol to Bio-BasedUnsaturated Poly(ester amide)s from Itaconic Acidwith Thixotropic...

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Sustainable Materials

Background:

• Growing demand for renewable monomers to replace petrochemicals in polymer synthesis.
• Itaconic acid as a bio-based alternative to acrylic or maleic acid in unsaturated polyesters.
• Limited research on poly(ester amide)s derived from itaconic acid due to side reactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel unsaturated poly(ester amide) resins from itaconic acid.
• To overcome challenges associated with direct polycondensation of itaconic acid with amines.
• To investigate the properties and UV-curing behavior of these new resins.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of preformed diols containing internal amide bonds.
• Polycondensation reactions to form unsaturated poly(ester amide) resins.
• Analysis of resins before and after UV-induced crosslinking, including viscosity measurements.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of unsaturated poly(ester amide) resins using novel diols.
• Avoidance of undesired aza-Michael addition and isomerization side reactions.
• Observation of significant thixotropic behavior in the synthesized resins, attributed to amide groups.

Conclusions:

• Preformed diols containing amide bonds are effective in synthesizing itaconic acid-based poly(ester amide)s.
• The resulting resins demonstrate unique thixotropic properties beneficial for UV-curing applications.
• This work expands the scope of bio-based polymers for advanced material development.