Synthesis and Characterization of Bio-based Epoxy Blends from Renewable Resource Based Epoxidized Soybean Oil as Reactive Diluent

A novel bioresin, epoxidized soybean oil was synthesized by in situ method and was characterized employing FTIR and NMR. The bioresin was blended with epoxy（DGEBA） at different ratios as reactive diluents for improved processibility and toughened nature. The composition with 20 wt% bioresin exhibited improved impact strength to the tune of 60% as compared to virgin epoxy. Fracture toughness parameters critical stress intensity factor（KIC） and critical strain energy release rate（GIC） were evaluated using single edge notch bending test and demonstrated superior enhancement in toughness. Dynamic mechanical, thermal, thermo mechanical and fracture morphological analyses have been studied for bio-based epoxy blends. Curing kinetics has been evaluated through DSC analysis to investigate the effect of bioresin on cross-linking reaction of neat epoxy with triethylenetetramine as curing agent.

Thermal,Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Biodegradable Poly(propylene carbonate)/Epoxidized Soybean Oil Blends

Biodegradable poly(propylene carbonate)(PPC)/epoxidized soybean oil(ESO)blends with different component ratios were prepared by melt blending to improve the performance of PPC.The phase morphology,thermal properties,rheological properties and mechanical properties of the blends were in vestigated in detail.SEM exami nation revealed good in terfacial adhesi on betwee n PPC matrix and ESO.According to DSC and DMA,as the content of ESO increased,the glass transition temperature of the PPC component increased,indicating that there was a strong in terfacial in teracti on between the PPC matrix and ESO.The in terfacial in teraction may be caused by rin g-opening reaction between the hydroxyl end groups of PPC and the epoxy groups of ESO,which restricted the chain movement of PPC matrix.The disappearanee of the epoxy groups in FTIR indicated that the in terfacial in teracti on betwee n the two phases was due to the rin g-openi ng reactio n betwee n PPC and ESO.With the addition of ESO,the thermal stabilities were enhanced.With the increasing ESO content,the modulus gradually decreased.However,the stre ngth at yield,the strength at break and the elon gation at break were in creased for the PPC/ESO blends,suggest!ng that the enhancement of the strength and toughness of PPC was achieved by the incorporation of ESO.The rheological measurement revealed that the complex viscosity,storage modulus and loss modulus of PPC were in creased with the increasi ng ESO content at low freque ncy,which indicated that the addition of ESO enhanced the melt strength of PPC in stead of plasticizi ng PPC.