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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Renewable Product Technology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #255866
Title: Biodegradable Photo-Crosslinked Thin Polymer Networks Based on Vegetable Oil Hydroxyfatty Acids

Author
item KIM, HAN-MIN - Chungbuk National University
item KIM, HAK-RYUL - Kyungpook National University
item Hou, Ching
item KIM, BEOM SOO - Chungbuk National University

Submitted to: Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/22/2010
Publication Date: 7/6/2010
Citation: Kim, H., Kim, H., Hou, C.T., Kim, B. 2010. Biodegradable photo-crosslinked thin polymer networks based on vegetable oil hydroxyfatty acids. Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 87:1451-1459.

Interpretive Summary: Previously, we discovered a new microbial culture Pseudomonas aeruginosa PR3 that produced 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid (DOD) from oleic acid. Hydroxy fatty acids are useful as starting materials for the synthesis of specialty chemicals, special military nylon, plastisizers, coating materials, and possible use as physiologically active agents. Now we found that DOD can be used to synthesize cross-linked thin polymer networks by photo-initiated free-radical polymerization with acrylated DOD. The new polymer showed good mechanical properties and was biodegradable. The biodegradable new polymer can be used as eco-friendly materials for various applications to replace the existing petroleum-based polymers currently used.

Technical Abstract: Novel crosslinked thin polymer networks based on vegetable oil hydroxyfatty acids (HFAs) were prepared by UV photopolymerization and their mechanical properties were evaluated. Two raw materials, castor oil and 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid (DOD) were used as sources of mono- and di-HFAs, respectively. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) diacrylate and poly(e-caprolactone) diacrylate were synthesized and used as crosslinking agent to form crosslinked polymer networks by UV-initiated free-radical polymerization with acrylated castor oil or acrylated DOD. The synthesis of acrylate derivatives was confirmed using FT-IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopic techniques. The composition of reaction mixture and the type/length of crosslinking agent were changed to obtain crosslinked polymer networks with various mechanical properties. For polymers prepared from high molecular weight (20,000) PEG, a 58 - 60% of the initial weights decreased in 35 days in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.2) containing lipase enzyme. These potentially biodegradable polymers based on vegetable oil HFAs can be used as ecofriendly materials for various applications to replace the existing petroleum-based polymers currently used.