A Theoretical and Practical Study of the Influence of (Met)acrylation on the Solubility Behavior of Radiation Curing Oligomers for Environmentally Friendly Coatings

Nowadays, the use of oligomers such as chitosan, gelatin, and epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) and their (meth)acrylated derivatives is expanding in medical and food industry applications. This study aims to investigate the change in solubility behavior of chitosan, gelatin, and ESO before and after (meth)acrylation, as this will affect the selection of solvents and other system components. Besides, the proper method to analyze the changes in solubility behavior will be illustrated. In this regard, chitosan methacrylate (ChMA) and gelatin methacrylate (GelMA), and acrylated ESO (AESO) were obtained by methacrylation of chitosan and gelatin, as well as acrylation of ESO, respectively. Then, Hillebrand (δHild) and Hansen (δHans) solubility parameters of these materials were calculated using molecular dynamics simulation and Hansen solubility spheres, respectively. The results signified that the δHild values of gelatin, ESO, and chitosan increased from 22.71, 13.52, and 29.54 MPa0.5 to 25.80, 18.75, and 33.06 MPa0.5, respectively (increment: 38.68%, 13.60% and 11.91%). In contrast, their δHans values did not change due to (meth)acrylation. Consequently, the conventional method for calculating δHans is not highly sensitive to changes such as (meth)acrylation, but molecular dynamics simulation can observe the changes and has the necessary sensitivity for calculating δHild, and can be considered as a powerful method for optimizing intermolecular interactions and calculating δ.