New Bio-based Polymeric Materials from Plant Oils

This study deals with development of new bio-based polymeric materials from epoxidized soybean oil (ESO). The curing of ESO in the presence of organophilic montmorillonite produced an oil polymer-clay nanocomposite ("green nanocomposite") showing flexible property. A green nanocomposite (oil polymer-silica nanocomposite) coatings were synthesized by an acidcatalyzed curing of ESO with 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane. The curing of ESO in the presence of a biodegradable plastic, poly(caprolactone), produced a composite with semi-IPN structure. The mechanical properties of the composite was much superior to those of polyESO. These new oil-based materials have large potential for applications in various fields.