Photoinduced Polymerization of Eugenol-Derived Methacrylates

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Green Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Biobased monomers offer sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based ones.
• Environmentally friendly polymerization methods are crucial for sustainable materials.
• Photoinduced polymerization is a low-energy, solvent-free technique suitable for green synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize biobased polymers using eugenol-, isoeugenol-, and dihydroeugenol-derived methacrylates.
• To investigate the effects of different functional groups on radical photopolymerization.
• To analyze the properties of the resulting crosslinked biobased polymers.

Main Methods:

• Radical photopolymerization of biobased methacrylates.
• Real-Time Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (RT-FTIR) for monitoring polymerization.
• Characterization using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and contact angle measurements.

Main Results:

• Polymerization rates were influenced by the allyl and propenyl groups present in the monomers.
• These groups participated in radical addition, chain transfer, and termination, leading to crosslinked polymer networks.
• The study successfully produced crosslinked biobased polymer films.

Conclusions:

• Biobased methacrylates can be effectively photopolymerized to yield crosslinked materials.
• The inherent functional groups of biobased monomers play a significant role in polymerization kinetics and network formation.
• Photoinduced polymerization offers a viable green route for producing advanced biobased polymers.