Synthesis and Characterization of Sustainable co-polymers Using a Series of Methacrylate Monomers and B-myrcen

Abstract

This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of sustainable polymers using β-myrcene monomer as a terpene compound. These polymers were synthesized using an environmentally benign emulsion copolymerization method, three monomers were used: isodecyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, and cyclohexyl methacrylate, each of which was polymerized separately with β-myrcene monomer. All these polymers can be vulcanized latex, which can be used to make semi-synthetic rubber. Ammonium persulfate was used as an initiator, sodium dodecyl sulfate SDS as an emulsion, and sodium bicarbonate as a pH regulator to synthesis the co-polymers in a 50/50 ratio. FT IR, 1H-NMR and 13CNMR spectroscopy were used to characterize the synthesized co-polymers, the spectra results indicated that their signals correspond to the chemical formula of the copolymer. The glass transition temperature means that the polymer is rubbery in nature, and the glass transition temperature values are similar to those of homogeneous methacrylate polymers, it was discovered that the length of the side chain of methacrylate monomers affects the polymerization reaction, and the optimum conditions for this reaction are 60 °C for 20 hours.