Synthesis and characterization of designed cellulose-graft-polyisoprene copolymers

In this work, we report an elegant design of novel graft copolymers based on two natural abundant biopolymers with opposite physical properties: rigid and hydrophilic cellulose, and flexible and hydrophobic synthesized polyisoprene (analogue of natural rubber), which combines rigidity and flexibility, hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity all in one macromolecule. These cellulose-graft-polyisoprene (Cell-g-PI) copolymers were synthesized via homogenous supplemental activator and reducing agent atom transfer radical polymerization (SARA ATRP). FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and TGA measurements demonstrate that Cell-g-PI copolymers are successfully prepared. TEM and DMA results illustrate that phase separation occurs in Cell-g-PI copolymers. Water contact angle measurements verify that their hydrophobicity increases with increasing polyisoprene side chain length. In addition, the core–shell Cell-g-PI nanoparticles in water can be prepared via a self-organized precipitation (SORP) method.