Methacrylated barley straw and acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO)  were co-polymerized and moulded into useful shapes. The resulting material showed excellent physical and mechanical properties. After water washing, the straw was dried and milled in a resonance disintegration mill (PW) to form uniform particles of size. The free hydroxyl groups on the surface of the finely divided straw was derivatized with methacryloyl groups employing a fluidized bed gas phase reactor. The methacryloylation reaction conditions were standardized and the degree of functionalization was monitored using a novel fluorescence based assay. The resulting bio macromonomer was powder compression polymerized in presence of AESO monomers using free radical initiators at 90 to 100 oC to obtain a strong polymer material. In this paper we will present the laboratory scale preparation, characterization, moulding conditions and mechanical properties of the novel biobased material. The entire production process may be scalable for industrial production.

Acrylated epoxidized soybean oil co-methacrylated barley straw as a new class of biobased material

244th National Meeting (2012)

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