Biobased polymer system: miniemulsion of poly(alkyl methacrylate-graft-lactic acid)s.

To broaden the application scope of lactic acid polymers, a new miniemulsion of poly(alkyl methacrylate-graft-lactic acid)s has been developed. The graft copolymer synthesis was based on a poly(lactic acid) macromonomer having a methacryloyl polymerizable group. The macromonomer and a comonomer of n-butyl methacrylate together with a suitable surfactant formed a miniemulsion of the comonomers in water. A radical copolymerization of the comonomers took place to produce the graft copolymer as a stable miniemulsion. The copolymer showed elastic polymer properties. The miniemulsion system may find useful applications as a new biobased polymer material that is environmentally desirable.