Study of the properties of polymers obtained from vegetable oil derivatives by light scattering techniques

Polymers from oleic acid (principal fatty acid of the olive oil) and methyl oleate were studied by static (SLS) and dynamic (DLS) light scattering in acetone solution. The oleic acid (OA) and methyl oleate (MO) were first epoxidized using a performic acid generated in situ. The epoxidized oleic acid (EOA) and methyl oleate (EMO) were reacted with cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride (CH) as cure agent, triethylamine (TEA) as initiator and small amount of 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDGE). According to light scattering results the EMO products without BDGE present low MW, however the EOA ones are characterized by aggregation and MW approximately 1.98 × 105 g/mol. The aggregation is evidenced by the presence of two modes in DLS experiments. The dimension of the single particle is approximately Rh = 5 nm and for the aggregates Rh increases until 169 nm. The samples with addition of BDGE in the reaction mixtures for both derivatives (EMO and EOA) result to macromolecular products with MW higher than 1.71 × 105 g/mol, however no aggregation of this macromolecules is observed. Both products present relatively small dimensions and random coil conformation behavior.