Environmentally benign 100% bio-based oligoamide microcapsules.

Our aim was to investigate the synthesis of alternative bio-based microcapsules, offering similar thermal and mechanical properties as formaldehyde-based ones and being directly applicable to the textile field. In this prospect, oligoamide microcapsules were generated by interfacial polycondensation from two bio-based monomers: succinyl chloride and 1,4-butanediamine. Optimization of the process afforded the preparation of monodispersed microcapsules with a d(0.5) diameter of 3 μm, exhibiting excellent stability over time. The expected amide groups in the microcapsules membrane were confirmed by FTIR, whereas SEC analysis suggested that microcapsules membrane was composed of oligoamide 4,4 chains with a D P ¯ n around 5. The chemical structure of model plane membranes prepared by interfacial polycondensation with jojoba oil as organic phase, was investigated by 13 C NMR and MALDI-TOF. The plane membranes appeared composed of PA 4,4 oligomers, in accordance with the information provided by SEC. The microcapsules exhibited a thermal degradation occurring in the range 200–350 °C, and a large melting endotherm peak centred on 200 °C. Thanks to the accurate thermal and mechanical properties of oligoamide 4,4, those microcapsules loaded with jojoba oil were successfully applied on cotton and polyamide fabrics which were submitted to laundering and rubbing tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]