Bio-based Polymeric Materials from Epoxidized Triglyceride and Rosin Derivatives

Abstract

IntroductionBio-based polymers are now moving into the mainstream and may soon be competing with commodity plastics [1-3]. Using biomass as a starting material for plastics is highly significant for reduction of greenhouse gas and fossil resource-saving in social viewpoints, which is one of the most promising solutions to problems concerning global environment and energy resources. Among them, triglyceride oils are expected as an ideal alternative chemical feedstock, since triglyceride oils, derived from plant source, such as soybean, palm, canola, and sunflower, are found in abundance in the world [4,5]. Inexpensive plant oils have been extensively used for various applications such as coatings and inks as a binder [6-11]. However, these oil-based materials did not show properties of rigidity and strength required for various applications by themselves. In some cases, triglyceride was a minor component in the polymeric materials; this was used solely as a modifier to improve their physical properties [12-18].Epoxidized plant oils are easily synthesized from the more common unsaturated oils, such as linseed, sunflower, and soybean oil, by standard epoxidation reaction [19]. Epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) and epoxidized linseed oil (ELO) are commercialized in large volumes, and have been used as an environmentconscious plasticizer for poly(vinyl chloride), chlorinated rubber, and poly(vinyl alcohol) emulsions to improve stability and flexibility. The polyols and acrylates converted from epoxidized plant oils were developed as a starting material for bio-based functional polymers [20-22]. Furthermore, epoxidized plant oils have been polymerized by ring-opening polymerization using photoinitiators, latent catalyst, and acid catalyst to produce plant oil-based network polymer [23-26].Recently, organic-inorganic green nanocomposites were developed by an acid-catalyzed curing of ESO in the presence of a silane coupling agent or an organic clay [27-31]. The mechanical properties of these plant oil-based nanocomposites increased by incorporating the inorganic moieties. Bio-based green composites were synthesized using biofiber such as kenaf, flax, and hemp as renewable compounds. Their mechanical strength was effectively improved by the incorporation of biofiber, whereas most of them showed poor flexibility due to the plant oil-based network structure [32-34].Rosin is one of bio-based materials and is obtained from the exudation of pines and conifers, which contains approximately 90% of abietic acid and its isomer. Rosin exhibits excellent solubility for organic media and compatibility with a variety of synthetic resins. Rosin and its derivatives have been used as adhesive tackifiers, and are still mainly used in those markets. In addition, they have also found other applications in printing, varnishes, paints, sealing wax, some soaps, paper sizing, etc. AbstractIn this study, bio-based polymeric materials have been developed from plant oil and rosin derivative. An acid-catalyzed curing of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) in...

Study on the physicochemical properties of human hair fiber‐reinforced modified epoxidized soybean oil‐based composites

“…Rosin is safe for living organisms, and their derivatives are claimed to be nontoxic. They can be used as an alternative to petroleum‐based rigid comonomers due to the presence of large phenanthrene ring 25–28 …”

“…They can be used as an alternative to petroleumbased rigid comonomers due to the presence of large phenanthrene ring. [25][26][27][28] The study reported in this manuscript aimed at preparing HFreinforced modified epoxidized soybean oil composites by compression molding technique. The HFs were chemically treated using three different concentrations of aqueous HCl, namely, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1%.…”