Polymers with shape memory effect from renewable resources: crosslinking of polyesters based on isosorbide, itaconic acid and succinic acid

Abstract Polycondensation of isosorbide with itaconic acid and succinic acid was performed in the presence of sulfuric acid as a catalyst in toluene around 140 °C under microwave irradiation. Molar ratios of itaconic acid were varied to investigate the influence of itaconic acid on molecular weights and glass transition temperatures. For polyesters of isosorbide, itaconic acid and succinic acid T g values were found from 57 °C to 65 °C. The molecular weights obtained varied from 1200 Da for poly(isosorbide itaconate) UPE100 up to 3500 Da for poly(isosorbide succinate) UPE0 . The copolyesters obtained were crosslinked radically with dimethyl itaconate giving a round shaped material with slightly raised T g values up to 74 °C. Furthermore, with dimethyl itaconate crosslinked copolyesters showed a one‐way shape memory effect upon heating after deformation at the glass transition temperature. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry