The free-radical copolymerization and the properties of comb-like copolymers derived from renewable resources, itaconic anhydride (ITA) and stearyl methacrylate (SM), are described. The ITA-SM copolymers were nearly random with a slight alternating tendency. The copolymers exhibited a nanophase-separated morphology, with the stearate side-chains forming a bilayer, semi-crystalline structure. The melting point (T-m) of the side-chains and the crystallinity decreased with increasing ITA concentration. The crystalline side-chains suppressed molecular motion of the main chain, so that a glass transition temperature (T-g) was not resolved unless the ITA concentration was sufficiently high so that T-g > T-m. The softening point and modulus of the copolymers increased with the increasing ITA concentration, but the thermal stability decreased. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.