US 2016/0108163 A1 · POLYLACTIC ACID (PLA) WITH LOW MOISTURE VAPOR TRANSMISSION RATES BY GRAFTING THROUGH OF HYDROPHOBIC POLYMERS DIRECTLY TO PLA BACKBONE

Abstract

Polylactic acid-backbone graft and bottlebrush copolymers with low moisture vapor transmission rates are synthesized by polymerizing a lactide-functionalized hydrophobic macromonomer using ring-opening polymerization (ROP). In some embodiments of the present invention, the macromonomer is a lactide-functionalized hydrophobic polymer that may be synthesized by, for example, polymerizing a hydrophobic monomer (e.g., a fluorinated vinyl monomer such as 2,2,2-trifluroethyl methacrylate) capable of undergoing radical polymerization (e.g., styrenic, vinylic, acrylic, etc.) using a brominated lactide initiator via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The brominated lactide initiator may be 3-bromo-3,6-dimethyl-1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione prepared by, for example, reacting lactide with N-bromosuccinimide in the presence of benzoyl peroxide.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A polylactic acid-backbone graft copolymer with a low moisture vapor transmission rate represented by the following formula:

wherein R is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and wherein HY is a phenyl group functionalized with a fluorine-containing moiety or C(O)OR′, wherein R′ is an alkyl group having one or more carbon atoms functionalized with a fluorine-containing moiety or wherein R′ is a linear or branched alkyl group or cycloalkyl group having one or more carbon atoms.

A method for synthesizing a polylactic acid-backbone bottlebrush or graft copolymer with a low moisture vapor transmission rate, comprising:

polymerizing a lactide-functionalized hydrophobic macromonomer using ring-opening polymerization (ROP), wherein the lactide-functionalized hydrophobic macromonomer is a lactide-functionalized hydrophobic polymer represented by the following formula:
wherein R is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and wherein HY is a phenyl group functionalized with a fluorine-containing moiety or C(O)OR′, wherein R′ is an alkyl group having one or more carbon atoms functionalized with a fluorine-containing moiety or wherein R′ is a linear or branched alkyl group or cycloalkyl group having one or more carbon atoms.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Polylactic acid (pla) with low moisture vapor transmission rates by grafting through of hydrophobic polymers directly to pla backbone

Life of this patent

Polylactic acid (pla) with low moisture vapor transmission rates by grafting through of hydrophobic polymers directly to pla backbone

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18