Synthesis characterization and physicochemical properties of new biodegradable graft copolymers

İn this study, PLina/PLinl peroxides were obtained by the auto-oxidation of linoleic acid (Lina) and linolenic acid (Linl) respectively. The autooxidation of Lina and Linl under air at room temperature rendered waxy soluble polymeric peroxide, having soluble fraction more than 98 weight percent (wt%) and containing up to 1.10-1.20 wt % of peroxide. Biodegradable poly (linoleic acid)-g-poly(?-caprolactone) and poly (linolenic acid)-g-poly(?-caprolactone) graft copolymers were synthesized via ring opening polymerization between autoxidized linoleic acid and linolenic acid peroxide initiators's carboxylic acid groups and ?-caprolactone monomer. In the second part of the study, one-step synthesis of graft copolymers by ring-opening polymerization and free radical polymerization by using polymeric linoleic acid peroxide and polymeric linoleic acid peroxide is studied. Graft copolymers having the structure of poly (linoleic acid)-g-p-(N-isopropylacrylamide)-g-poly(D,L-lactid) were synthesized from polymeric linoleic acid peroxide possesing peroxide groups in the main chain by the combination of free radical polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide and ring opening polymerization of D,L-lactid in one-step. The principal parameters such as monomer concentration, initiator concentration, and polymerization time that affect the one-step polymerization reaction were evaluated. The graft copolymers obtained were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. These characterization studies of the obtained polymers indicate graft copolymers easily formed as a result of combination free radical polymerization and ring opening polymerization in one-step.