Open Access

ARTICLE

Tunable Hydrophilicity of Poly(ethyl lactate acrylate-coacrylic acid)

M. Purushothaman¹, P. Santhana Gopala Krishnan^1,2,*, S. K. Nayak^1,2

1 Department of Plastics Technology, Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology, T.V.K Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai-600032, India
2 Department of Plastics Engineering, Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology, Patia, Bhubaneswar-751024, India

* Corresponding Authors: ;

Journal of Renewable Materials 2015, 3(4), 292-301. https://doi.org/10.7569/JRM.2015.634114

Received 14 February 2015; Accepted 23 June 2015;

Abstract

Four copolymers of poly(ethyl lactate acrylate-co-acrylic acid) were prepared by the solution polymerization technique by varying the comonomer content from 0.2 to 0.8 mole percent. The copolymers were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H-NMR and proton decoupled ¹³C-NMR spectroscopic techniques. The reactivity ratio of ethyl lactate acrylate (ELA) and acrylic acid (AA) was calculated using the Fineman-Ross method and the values were found to be 0.101 and 0.186, respectively, indicating the formation of an alternating copolymer. From the wide-angle X-ray diffraction studies (WAXD), the average molecular interchain spacing () was calculated from the 2θ value of amorphous halo at about 20°. The values varied from 5.20 to 5.64 Å and increased with an increase in the ELA content. The water absorption of copolymers followed Fickian absorption. Depending upon the copolymer composition, relative humidity and time, the water absorption of copolymers can be tuned to a wide range from 3 to 35% (w/w). The T_g of copolymers decreased from 106 to −27.4°C with an increase in the ELA content. The copolymers were thermally stable up to 150°C and thereafter exhibited three-step thermal degradation in nitrogen atmosphere. The thermal stability of polymers can be explained on the basis of value.

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Keywords

Average molecular interchain spacing, copolymer, hydrophilicity, lactate, thermal stability

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Cite This Article

APA Style

Purushothaman, M., Krishnan, P.S.G., Nayak, S.K. (2015). Tunable hydrophilicity of poly(ethyl lactate acrylate-coacrylic acid). Journal of Renewable Materials, 3(4), 292-301. https://doi.org/10.7569/JRM.2015.634114

Vancouver Style

Purushothaman M, Krishnan PSG, Nayak SK. Tunable hydrophilicity of poly(ethyl lactate acrylate-coacrylic acid). J Renew Mater. 2015;3(4):292-301 https://doi.org/10.7569/JRM.2015.634114

IEEE Style

M. Purushothaman, P.S.G. Krishnan, and S.K. Nayak, “Tunable Hydrophilicity of Poly(ethyl lactate acrylate-coacrylic acid),” J. Renew. Mater., vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 292-301, 2015. https://doi.org/10.7569/JRM.2015.634114

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