Grafting from Starch Nanoparticles with Synthetic Polymers via Nitroxide-Mediated Polymerization

Nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP) is employed to graft synthetic polymers from polysaccharides. This work demonstrates the first successful polymer grafting from starch nanoparticles (SNPs) via NMP. To graft synthetic polymers from the SNPs' surface, the SNPs are first functionalized with 4-vinylbenzyl chloride prior to reaction with BlocBuilder MA yielding a macroinitiator. Methyl methacrylate with styrene, acrylic acid, or methyl acrylate are then grafted from the SNPs. The polymerizations exhibited linear reaction kinetics, indicating that they are well controlled. Thermal gravimetric analysis and spectroscopic techniques confirmed the synthesis of the precursors materials and the success of the grafting from polymerizations. The incorporation of hydrophobic synthetic polymers on hydrophilic SNPs yields new hybrid materials that could find use in several industrial applications including paper coatings, adhesives, and paints.