Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(N-Isopropyl Acryl Amide)-g-Poly(Linoleic Acid)/Poly(Linolenic Acid) Graft Copolymers

To diversify edible oil thermoresponsive polymer composites, polymeric linoleic acid peroxide (PLina) and polymeric linolenic acid peroxide (PLinl) were obtained by the autoxidation of linoleic acid (Lina) and linolenic acid (Linl), respectively. The autoxidation of Lina and Linl under air at room temperature rendered waxy soluble polymeric peroxide, having a soluble fraction in chloroform of more than 91 wt% and containing up to 1.0 wt% of peroxide. The soluble polymeric oil macro-peroxide was used to initiate the free radical polymerization of N -isopropylacrylamide, NIPAM, resulting in PLina-g-PNIPAM and PLinl-g-PNIPAM graft copolymers, respectively. The PNIPAM content of the graft copolymers was calculated using the elemental nitrogen analysis of graft copolymers. Thermal analysis, FTIR, 1 H NMR, and SEM techniques were used in the characterization of the products. The hydrophobic effect of the fatty acid macro peroxides on the thermal response rate of the graft copolymers was investigated by means of swelling-deswelling behaviors in response to temperature change. They have a thermoresponsive character and exhibit a volume phase transition at approximately 27–30 °C, which is 1–4 °C lower than that of pure PNIPAM. A plastizer effect of PLina and PLinl in graft copolymers was observed, indicating a lower glass transition temperature than that of pure PNIPAM.