The structure-properties relationships of sustainable materials derived from biomass-based monomers are investigated, focusing on hybrid styrene/terpene-based copolymers with blocky microstructures, such as β-myrcene- and β-ocimene-styrene copolymers. The samples show complex glass transition dynamics, as evidenced by the physical aging experienced by the amorphous phase in styrene-rich copolymers. The tendency of styrene- and terpene-rich sequences to give heterogeneous morphologies with correlation strength extending over 10-40 nm is outlined, through small-angle X-ray scattering analysis. A new class of terpene-based hybrid systems, holding promise for applications in surface coating technologies, is identified.
Keywords: biomass polymers; biopolymers; circular economy polymers; renewable and biodegradable polymers; sustainable thermoplastics.
© 2024 The Author(s). Macromolecular Rapid Communications published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.