Comb-like crosslinked alkyl acrylates-vinyl acetate terpolymers for oil sorption

A series of comb-like crosslinked dodecyl acrylate-co-octadecyl acrylate-co-vinyl acetate terpolymers (DOVs) were synthesized with four different feed ratios of vinyl acetate while keeping other monomer ratios constant. Crosslinking was carried out using trimethylol propane triacrylate (hexafunctional) or divinyl benzene (tetrafunctional). Terpolymers were characterized by FTIR spectroscopic analysis and their swelling properties, such as oil sorbency, were evaluated. Structure-performance relationship was discussed, especially in regards to crystallinity, crosslinker type, and feed ratio. Moreover, network parameters including polymer solvent interaction (chi), effective crosslink density (nu (e) ), equilibrium modulus of elasticity (G (T) ), and average molecular weight between crosslinks (M (c) ), were determined and correlated to the efficiency of the synthesized terpolymers. The highest oil absorbency of crosslinked DOVs is 43.22 gg(-1) attained after 20 min of immersion.