Application of Modified Natural Oils as Reactive Diluents for Epoxy Resins

Abstract

Summary: Bisphenol A based low-molecular-weight epoxy resin was modified with epoxidized soybean oil, which exhibit viscosity reducing ability comparable to commercial grade active diluents. The studied compositions showed a nonNewtonian rheological behavior, typical for Bingham liquids. The values of the flow index (n) and the consistency index (k) for the compositions tested in the temperature range 25-65 8C were calculated from the Ostwald-de Waele rheological model and were used to calculate the flow-activation energy (E a ) using the Arhenius equation. Studies of co-crosslinking of mixed oil-resin compositions using isophorone diamine showed essential decrease of the reaction heat and peak maximum temperature. Mechanical properties, thermal stability, water absorption and chemical resistance of the epoxy resin modified with natural oil, were also investigated. Compositions of epoxy resin Ruetapox 0162, modified with the oil diluent, preserved very good mechanical properties of the epoxy resins and demonstrated relatively low water absorption as well as high chemical resistance. The compositions displayed even higher impact strength than pure epoxy resin due to plasticizing effect of the built-in oil. Compositions with the high contents (up to 60 weight %) of the oil were flexible materials with fast elastic recovery.

Vegetable oil-derived epoxy monomers and polymer blends: A comparative study with review

“…Aliphatic amine [12,71], or boron trifluoride diethyl etherate [72,73], cured ESO polymers had low T g , usually less than 0°C. While aromatic amine [29], cycloaliphatic amine [74], thermally latent initiator [75], or anhydride [76] cured EVO polymers generally have higher T g , it is still rare to observe cured ESO polymers [31,77] with T g above 60°C.…”

Novel bio-based epoxy-polyurethane materials from modified vegetable oils – synthesis and characterization

“…Moreover, application of renewable resources in their synthesis and modification is also of great interest, due to the growing ecological issues as well as economical and societal advantages [8,9]. Vegetable oils, which are biodegradable, renewable, non-toxic, environmentally benign and easily modified [10,11] have already found applications in the technology of epoxies as: additives, flexibilizers [12], and diluents [13], decreasing viscosity of epoxy resins or bio-alternatives for raw petrochemical materials in the process of their synthesis [14,15]. In a respect of functionality of vegetable oils, defined as content of unsaturated bonds and in the same time content of functional groups, which might be introduced in to the molecule, epoxidized derivatives of natural oils can be formally classified as epoxy resins.…”

“…This innovatory synthesis has numerous advantages, such as: simplicity and opportunity of obtaining product with tailored properties and molecular weight, much higher than via conventional solvent method, and moreover, without the necessity of application of harmful for environment solvents, strong acids and alkali, what is important in the era of environmental awareness [16]. Additionally, this process allows introducing vegetable oils in the synthesis process of epoxy resins, resulting in obtaining a pro-ecological product with better application characteristics (lower viscosity [13,17] and higher resilience) than via the conventional method which relies on the use of petrochemical raw materials. There are two main paths of application of modified vegetable oils in obtaining high-molecular weight epoxy products in the epoxy fusion process, by using either an epoxidized or hydroxyl natural oil.…”

Interpenetrating Polymer Network (IPN) with Epoxidized and Acrylated Bioresins and their Composites with Glass and Jute Fibres

“…The synthesis, characterisation, and industrial applications of epoxidized vegetable oil-based bio-resins (EVO) have been investigated (Khot et al 2001;O'Donnell et al 2004;Park et al 2004;Hong and Wool 2005;Czub 2006;Dweib et al 2006). Most research has focused on soybean and canola oils, which are traditionally used in food production and also linseed oil, which is used as drying oil.…”