(29g) Role of Acrylic Content on the Kinetics and Rheology of Thermoplastic Poly(acrylated expoxidized soybean oil) Produced Via RAFT Polymerization

Soybean oil, a triglyceride, has been used in polymer industry for decades, primarily as a polyol for use in polyurethanes. Recently, we have been exploring a family of thermoplastic poly(acryated epoxided soybean oil)s—PAESOs—produced by RAFT (Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer). Due to the presence of multiple functional sites per molecule, polymerized triglyceride structures range from thermoset networks to hyperbranched polymers. In this contribution, we illustrate different chain architectures by changing the acrylic functionality from 2.6 to 1 acrylic groups per monomer.  Furthermore, the architecture can also be tuned through the monomer concentration. Cycling/intramolecular crosslinking reactions are more likely in dilute solution; while intermolecular reaction will dominate in more concentrated solution. Kinetic data will be provided, which shows how the concentration affects architectures. Melt and solution rheological properties of a series of hyperbranched polymers with different architectures will be discussed as well, which shows how the different architecture influence the viscoelasticity of final product as well as the polymer solution properties.