Thermal, structural, and physico-mechanical characterization of mustard oil-based macromer-MMA copolymers for advanced coating applications

This study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of copolymers derived from mustard oil-based erucic acid macromer and methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer. A series of copolymers were synthesized by varying the ratio of macromer and monomer via free radical polymerization. The structure of obtained copolymers was analyzed by FTIR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. The TGA analysis of prepared samples exhibited multiple degradation stages and provided insights into the pyrolysis temperature of copolymers. Also, thermal stability was enhanced with an increase in alkyd content. Glass transition temperatures (T_g) of copolymers were measured using DSC. The SEM images show the changes in porosity with variations in the monomer ratio, reflecting the influence of alkyd and acrylate content on the material surface. XRD reveals the amorphous nature of the copolymers. The objective of the copolymerization process was to enhance the thermal stability and other physico-mechanical properties of the copolymers. Various tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of the copolymers as coating materials, including water and chemical resistance, adhesion, pencil hardness, and drying time. The results revealed that the incorporation of MMA into the alkyd improved the alkaline resistance and water resistance behavior of the copolymer. Overall, this study showcases the potential of copolymers derived from alkyd and MMA for diverse applications, especially in coating materials with improved properties to withstand challenging conditions.