Bio-based polymer features of biodegradability and compostability are desirable to combat the harmful environmental effects of petroleum-based polymers. Versatility of fatty acids derived from plant oils have been displayed in the production of polyesters, polyamides, and polyurethanes. With an objective to successfully utilize whole natural oils in the synthesis networked polymers, a three-fold procedure was investigated. High oleic sunflower oil was subjected to fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) synthesis. Subsequently, the FAME’s were oligomerized by transesterification with molecules of variable hydroxyl functionalization. Lastly, these oligomers were networked via the radical polymerization of the unsaturation in their hydrocarbon tails. The oligomers were characterized by Mass Spectroscopy (MS) and <sup>13</sup>C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The networked polymers were characterized by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and thermal stability by Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA).

Synthesis and characterization of networked fatty acid based polymers

2019 Spring National Meeting

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