Synthesis, characterization and cross-linking of a library of statistical copolymers based on 2-"soy alkyl"-2-oxazoline and 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline

The synthesis of statistical copolymers consisting of 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline (EtOx) and 2-‘‘soy alkyl’’-2-oxazoline (SoyOx) via a microwave-assisted cationic ringopening polymerization procedure is described. The majority of the resulting copolymers revealed polydispersity indices below 1.30. The reactivity ratios (rEtOx 1.4 6 0.3; rSoyOx ¼ 1.7 6 0.3) revealed a clustered monomer distribution throughout the polymer chains. The thermal and surface properties of the pEtOx-stat-SoyOx copolymers were analyzed before and after UV-curing demonstrating the decreased chain mobility after cross-linking. In addition, the cross-linked materials showed shape-persistent swelling upon absorption of water from the air, whereby as little as 5 mol % SoyOx was found to provide efficient cross-linking.