Semi-crystalline and recyclable pressure sensitive adhesives from non-edible rapeseed oil-based hyperbranched polyester vitrimers

Abstract

Hyperbranched polymers exhibit distinctive properties attributed to their highly branched architecture and the abundant functional groups they carry. In this study, we synthesized innovative hyperbranched polyesters from vegetable oil derivatives without utilizing solvents. The reaction conditions were optimized and these polymers were comprehensively characterized based on size distribution, degree of branching and molecular structure. These hyperbranched polymers manifest as sticky viscous liquids with semi-crystalline behavior, featuring glass transition temperatures (T_g) and melting temperatures (T_m) as low as 18 °C. Subsequently, the latter were utilized as precursors for the design of unique thermosets with potential self-healing and recyclable pressure-sensitive adhesive properties.