Semicontinuous emulsion copolymerization of β‐farnesene with glycidyl methacrylate: toward terpene‐based rubbery materials

Abstract To obtain sustainable polymers with a wide range of applications, a series of β‐farnesene (Far)‐glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) copolymers were successfully synthesized via thermal initiation emulsion polymerization at 60 °C, with varying molar ratios. The poly(β‐farnesene‐glycidyl methacrylate) copolymer with f Far = 0.15–0.75 exhibited conversions >90% with M n = 25 300–87 700 g mol −1 . Glass transition temperatures T g were determined to be in the range −65.9 to 31.3 °C. Furthermore, reactivity ratios were investigated for the β‐farnesene‐glycidyl methacrylate copolymer. Monomeric compositions in the copolymer were determined by 1 H NMR and reactivity ratios were calculated using two methods, the Kelen–Tudös method and the error in variables method using RREVM software, yielding 𝑟 Far = 0.5098 ± 0.0509 and 𝑟 GMA = 0.1975 ± 0.0197; these values suggest the formation of copolymer with a tendency to alternate. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.