Epoxy resin blends and composites from waste vegetable oil

• Published in: European polymer journal 2017-04, Vol.89, p.449-460
• Main Authors: Fernandes, Felipe C., Kirwan, Kerry, Lehane, Danielle, Coles, Stuart R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biopolymers; Bisphenol A; Carbon fiber reinforced plastics; Effects; Epoxidation; Epoxy resins; Frying; Material testing; Mechanical properties; Polymer blends; Polymer matrix composites; Polymers; Tensile properties; Thermal degradation; Thermosetting resins; Vegetable oil; Vegetable oils
• ISSN: 0014-3057; 1873-1945
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2017.02.005

[Display omitted] •Purification process developed for use of waste vegetable oils in polymers.•10% w/w waste plant oil-based epoxy added to DGEBA resin system has no ill effects.•Addition at levels greater than 15% w/w leads to plasticizing of epoxy resin.•Resin systems compatible with recycled carbon fibres, enhancing sustainability. Thermosets and composites were prepared from blends of epoxidized waste vegetable oils and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A to investigate this material as an alternative triglyceride source for epoxy resins. Purification of the waste oil was developed to remove impurities derived from thermal degradation in the frying process and different epoxidation methodologies were investigated. Effects of epoxidized vegetable oil content (up to 30wt%) and origin on the tensile properties were studied and revealed that purified waste oils performed similarly to neat oil in contents up to 10wt%, proving that this strategy does not compromise tensile properties when waste oils are used in suitable proportions. Furthermore, a more prominent plasticizing effect was observed when more than 15wt% of bio-based resin was used as confirmed by DMA. Composites were prepared with recycled carbon fibres (up to 30wt%) and thermosets with 10wt% of bio-based epoxy resins, significantly improving the mechanical properties.