Ricinoleic acid incorporation into poly

Ricinoleic acid is a bifunctional fatty acid containing a hydroxy group along the fatty chain. The presence of both carboxylic and hydroxyl groups allows incorporation of ricinoleic acid into a polymer backbone by formation of an ester bond. The synthesis of poly(ester-anhydride) contains two steps trans-... 

Castor oil has found application in the synthesis of interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs). These materials can be defined as a combination of two polymer networks, at least one of which is synthesized and/or cross-linked in the immediate presence of the other. They are called semi-lPN if just one of the polymers is a network (Athawale et al, 2003). Early reports on castor oil IPNs appeared in 1977 by Yenwo and co-workers. The report discussed the synthesis possibilities via cross-linking of double bonds with sulfur, reaction of hydroxyl groups with diisocyanates, and emulsion polymerizations with saponified ricinoleic acids as emulsifier. Moreover, the IPNs from acrylic polymers, such as polymethyl methacrylate and poly-2-ethoxyethyl methacrylate, and castor oil-based polyurethanes were reported to contribute to the final properties of the material (Cunha et al., 2004 Sanmathi et al, 2004). Incorporation of acrylic moieties into the PU networks increased toughness and thermal properties. In contrast, IPN polyesters derived from castor oil and dibasic acids (e.g. malonic, succinic, glutaric, adipic, suberic, and sebacic acid) were obtained as soft and opaque elastomers (Suthar et al, 2003). 

---