Sustainable ABA Triblock Methacrylate Copolymers Incorporating both High and Low Tg Terpene-Derived Monomers

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

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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.
Original languageEnglish
Article number111567
Number of pages10
JournalEuropean Polymer Journal
Volume179
Early online date9 Sept 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 Oct 2022

Bibliographical note

© 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Funding Information:
This work was carried out with the support of Diamond Light Source, beamline I22 (proposal SM23501). Professor Nick J. Terrill and Dr Andrew J. Smith are thanked for help and advice during SAXS data collection.

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [grant numbers EP/N019784/1,]; the School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham. We thank Mark Guyler (University of Nottingham) for his technical support with all the laboratory equipment. We are indebted to Shazad Aslam and Kevin Butler for their technical input to analysis by NMR. This work was carried out with the support of Diamond Light Source, beamline I22 (proposal SM23501). Professor Nick J. Terrill and Dr Andrew J. Smith are thanked for help and advice during SAXS data collection.

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [grant numbers EP/N019784/1,]; the School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham. We thank Mark Guyler (University of Nottingham) for his technical support with all the laboratory equipment. We are indebted to Shazad Aslam and Kevin Butler for their technical input to analysis by NMR.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022

Keywords

  • Terpenes
  • Nopinyl
  • ABA Triblocks
  • Biorenewable monomers
  • RAFT

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Sustainable ABA Triblock Methacrylate Copolymers Incorporating both High and Low Tg Terpene-Derived Monomers'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this