A series of green hybrid thermosetting resins composed of acrylated epoxidized palm oil (AEPO) and vinyl ester (VE) were prepared via free radical polymerization. The AEPO/VE ratio was varied between 5/95 and 20/80 wt.%. The mechanical properties of resulting hybrid systems were investigated by tensile and flexural tests. The results revealed that these hybrids exhibit mechanical properties comparable to those of commercial vinyl ester resins.

An epoxidized palm oil-based hydrogel (HPEPO) was synthesized by using ring opening polymerization (ROP) in the presence of fluoroantimonic acid hexahydrate catalyst (HSbF 6 ·6H 2 O), followed by chemical hydrolysis catalyzed with sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The structural characterization and thermal property of synthesized hydrogel were studied. The successful ring opening of EPO was confirmed by disappearing of epoxy functional group at 833 cm -1 in the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum. The formation of HPEPO was detected at 2500 cm -1 to 3400 cm -1 which represents the O-H stretching of carboxylic acid. Based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), the disappearance of epoxy ring group at 2.8 -3.0 ppm has indicated the completely reacted oxirane ring with the presence of peak at 3.7 ppm corresponded to hydroxyl group. Meanwhile, HPEPO exhibited low thermal stability by having melting temperature around 45 °C to 60 °C in Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and as showed by the great percentage of weight loss in thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curve. However, the formation of char residue was slow, probably due to the formation of hydrogen linkages in hydrogel.Keywords: hydrogel, epoxidized palm oil, ring opening polymerization, chemical hydrolysis AbstrakHidrogel berasaskan minyak sawit terepoksidasi (HPEPO) telah disintesis menggunakan polimerisasi pembukaan cincin (ROP) dengan kehadiran asid fluoroantimonik heksahidrat (HSbF 6 .6H 2 O) sebagai pemangkin, diikuti dengan hidrolisis kimia yang dimangkinkan oleh natrium hidroksida (NaOH). Pencirian struktur dan sifat termal hidrogel yang disintesis telah dikaji. Kejayaan pembukaan cincin minyak sawit terepoksidasi (EPO) telah disahkan melalui kehilangan kumpulan berfungsi epoksi pada 833 cm -1 dalam spektrum Fourier inframerah (FTIR). Pembentukan HPEPO dikesan pada 2500 cm -1 hingga 3400 cm -1 yang mewakili regangan O-H daripada asid karboksilik. Merujuk kepada resonans magnetik nuklear, kehilangan cincin epoksi pada 2.8 -3.0 ppm menunjukkan cincin oksiran telah bertindakbalas sepenuhnya dengan kewujudan puncak pada 3.7 ppm sepadan dengan kumpulan hidroksil. Sementara itu, HPEPO telah mempamerkan kestabilan haba yang rendah dengan mempunyai suhu lebur antara 45 °C to 60 °C daripada kalorimetri pengimbasan pembezaan (DSC) dan seperti yang ditunjukkan dalam kehilangan peratusan berat yang besar melalui lengkung analisis Termogravimetri (TGA). Walau bagaimanapun, pembentukan sisa arang didapati perlahan, berkemungkinan disebabkan oleh pembentukan ikatan hidrogen dalam hidrogel.Kata kunci: hidrogel, minyak sawit terepoksidasi, polimerisasi pembukaan cincin, hidrolisis kimia