Preparation of polymer particles using UV-start double emulsion systems

Adaptation of biologically based monomers to polymer material preparation processes is very important for the use of renewable resources. At this point, terpenes, the largest class of bio-derived monomers, are important in terms of polymer chemistry due to their functional groups containing two or more unsaturation in their chain structures and their isoprene-like structures. However, regioselectivity and high reactivity of terpenes are the most important disadvantages encountered in the synthesis of terpene-based polymers. In this thesis, by using a bio-based moomer, β-myrcene based polymeric particles, were synthesized by double emulsion method. In order to obtain polymeric particles rapidly and more efficiently, polymerization was initiated by UV in the presence of photoinitiator. The thesis study was carried out in three stages as polyHIPE synthesis, particle synthesis by double emulsion method, and particle functionalization. Terpene-based polyHIPE monoliths with macroporosity and optimum morphology were obtained by crosslinking a monoterpene, β-myrcene, with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and ethylene glycol dimethylacrylate (EGDMA). At the third stage of the thesis, based on the polyHIPE formulation having optimum physical and morphological properties, polyHIPE particles, which were synthesized by the double emulsion method, were functionalized with 1,2,4-triazole-5-thiol (ATT) by UV curing. Structural, morphological and thermal properties of the obtained polyHIPE monoliths and particles were characterized by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Branneur- Emmet-Teller Surface Area and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), respectively. As a result, it was concluded that the stability of the monoliths and particles varies depending on the β-myrcene ratio, emulsifier type and ratio, comonomer type and ratio.