ARS | Publication request: Cross-Linkers Control the Viscoelastic Properties of Soybean Oil Based Biomaterials

Submitted to: Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: July 6, 2004
Publication Date: August 1, 2004
Citation: Xu, J., Liu, Z., Erhan, S.Z., Carriere, C.J. 2004. Cross-linkers control the viscoelastic properties of soybean oil based biomaterials. Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 81(8):813-816.

Interpretive Summary: Many biopolymers have potential advantages compared with synthetic petroleum polymers due to their biodegradable properties and, in many cases, lower cost. Annually, the United States produces about one billion pounds of soybean oils in excess of current commercial demand. This excess capacity has resulted in lower prices for soybean oils as well as other agricultural commodities. Previously, we reported a biomaterial developed from epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) that has similar behavior to synthetic rubber/plastics. In this paper, we further investigated the properties of the composites made from ESO using two different curing agents. We found that we can make different biomaterials from ESO, which would display different viscoelastic behaviors by controlling the amount of the curing agents or by using different agents.

Technical Abstract: Due to the environmental concerns, such as recycling, biodegradable materials have become of increasing research interest over the last several years. Previously we reported on a bio-based material developed from epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), which displayed viscoelastic behavior similar to synthetic rubber/plastics. In this work, the viscoelastic properties of several biomaterials made from ESO cross-linked by two different cross-linking agents with different amounts were investigated. The composites exhibited different glass transition temperatures and viscoelastic behaviors dependent on the cross-linkers or the amounts of cross-linkers. The higher glass transition temperature and stronger viscoelastic properties of the materials were found with greater amounts of cross-linkers. Comparing agent Triethylene Glycol Diamine (TGD) to agent Triethylenetriamine (TETA), we found out that the composite cross-linked by the TETA had higher glass transition temperatures and stronger viscoelastic solid properties than the composite cross-linked by the agent TGD.