Effect of Selected Thiols on Cross-Linking of Acrylated Epoxidized Soybean Oil and Properties of Resulting Polymers

• Published in: Polymers 2018-04, Vol.10 (4), p.439
• Main Authors: Kasetaite, Sigita, De la Flor, Silvia, Serra, Angels, Ostrauskaite, Jolita
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chloroform; Crosslinking; Glass transition temperature; Mechanical properties; Michael reaction; Modulus of elasticity; Polymers; Soybean oil; Soybeans; Swelling; Temperature; Thermal stability; Thermodynamic properties; Thiols; Toluene; Vegetable oils
• ISSN: 2073-4360; 2073-4360
• DOI: 10.3390/polym10040439

The effect of the chemical structure and functionality of three structurally different thiols on the cross-linking of acrylated epoxidized soybean oil and on the properties of the resulting polymers was investigated in this study. 1,3-Benzenedithiol, pentaerythritol tetra(3-mercaptopropionate), and an hexathiol synthesized from squalene were used in the cross-linking of acrylated epoxidized soybean oil by thiol⁻Michael addition reaction. The reactivity of thiols determined from calorimetric curves followed the order: 1,3-benzenedithiol > pentaerythritol tetra(3-mercaptopropionate) > hexathiolated squalene. Thermal and mechanical properties and the swelling in different solvents of the cross-linked polymers were studied. The cross-linked polymer obtained from 1,3-benzenedithiol showed the highest swelling values in chloroform and toluene. The cross-linked polymer with pentaerythritol tetra(3-mercaptopropionate) fragments showed the best mechanical performance (highest mechanical strength and Young's modulus) and thermal stability. The cross-linked polymers from hexathiolated squalene showed the highest glass transition temperature.