The chemistry of styrenated oils

Abstract

AbstractThe interaction of styrene with the methyl esters of a number of drying‐oil acids and with a dehydrated castor oil has been studied. The experiments were carried out under a single set of reaction conditions, at 140°in the absence of oxygen or added catalyst. The products were separated into four types and their nature elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic analysis and molecular weight determination. Both the conjugated‐triene (α‐elaeostearic) and conjugated‐diene (9 : 11‐linoleic) systems formed true copolymers of high molecular weight with styrene, and also Diels‐Alder adducts containing one styrene molecule combined with one fatty ester molecule. The non‐conjugated linoleic and linolenic esters did not copolymerize with styrene. With methyl 9 : 12‐linoleate the high‐molecular‐weight product was almost indistinguishable from polystyrene. With methyl 9 : 12 : 15‐linolenate it was found that a small proportion of ester was attached to the polymer chain, probably by chain transfer. With dehydrated castor oil containing a mixed ester of conjugated and non‐conjugated acids, copolymers of relatively low ester content were obtained, and not mixtures of copolymers and polystyrene.