A series of thermoresponsive shape-memory photopolymers have been synthesized from the mixtures of two biobased monomers, tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate and tridecyl methacrylate, with the addition of a small amount of 1,3-benzendithiol (molar ratio of monomers 0-10:0.5:0.03, respectively). Ethyl (2,4,6 trimethylbenzoyl) phenylphosphinate was used as photoinitiator. The calculated biorenewable carbon content of these photopolymers was in the range of (63.7-74.9)%. The increase in tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate content in the photocurable resins resulted in a higher rate of photocuring, increased rigidity, as well as mechanical and thermal characteristics of the obtained polymers. All photopolymer samples showed thermoresponsive shape-memory behavior when reaching their glass transition temperature. The developed biobased photopolymers can replace petroleum-derived thermoresponsive shape-memory polymer analogues in a wide range of applications.
Keywords: biobased photopolymers; photocuring; shape-memory; thermo-responsive.