US 11,999,874 B2
Thermoplastic polymer and method of forming the same
Rangana Wijayapala, Starkville, MS (US); Santanu Kundu, Starkville, MS (US); Bill Elmore, Starkville, MS (US); and Charles Freeman, Starkville, MS (US)
Assigned to Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS (US)
Filed by Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS (US)
Filed on Apr. 13, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/847,583.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/833,463, filed on Apr. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0325271 A1, Oct. 15, 2020
Int. Cl. C08G 63/48 (2006.01); C08G 63/06 (2006.01); C08L 91/00 (2006.01); C09F 7/06 (2006.01)
CPC C09F 7/06 (2013.01) [C08G 63/06 (2013.01); C08G 63/48 (2013.01); C08L 91/005 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of forming a non-crosslinked thermoplastic polymer, the method comprising:
epoxidizing a plant-based oil to form an epoxidized plant-based oil;
saponifying the epoxidized plant-based oil to separate fatty acids from glycerol; and then
polymerizing the separated fatty acids to form the thermoplastic polymer;
wherein in the polymerizing step includes esterification with a titanium isoperoxide catalyst solution under vacuum and at an elevated temperature;
wherein after esterification of the polymerization the reaction temperature is raised to at least 200° C. under reduced pressure; and
wherein the thermoplastic polymer exhibits melting between 110-120° C. and recrystallization between 95-105° C.