Design, synthesis and characterization of higher poly(alkyl lactate acrylate)s

Homologous series of alkyl lactate and alkyl lactate acrylates starting from hexyl to dodecyl were synthesized and then polymerized by solution polymerization using AIBN as the free radical initiator. Lactic acid derivatives such as alkyl lactates and its acrylates were synthesized by azeotropic method. The formation of monomers and polymers were confirmed using Electron Impact-Mass Spectra, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and proton and proton decoupled carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Inherent viscosity of poly(alkyl lactate acrylate)s was in the range of 0.12–0.26 dL/g. GPC curves of polymers exhibited unimodal molecular weight distribution. The thermal stability of the poly(alkyl lactate acrylate)s were determined using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).