Abstract
ABSTRACTNonvolatile and nonhazardous acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) was investigated as a replacement for hazardous styrene in a commercial unsaturated polyester (UPE) resin [a mixture of styrene and a dicyclopentadiene (DCPD)‐modified UPE (DCPD–UPE)]. DCPD–UPE was prepared from ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, maleic anhydride, and DCPD. Mixtures of AESO and DCPD–UPE [AESO–(DCPD–UPE) resins] were found to be homogeneous, easily pourable solutions at room temperature. The glass‐fiber‐reinforced composites from the AESO–(DCPD–UPE) resins were comparable or even superior to those from the mixture of styrene and DCPD–UPE in terms of the flexural and tensile strengths. The viscoelastic properties of the cured AESO–(DCPD–UPE) resins and the corresponding glass‐fiber‐reinforced composites were characterized by dynamic mechanical analysis. The viscosities and pot lives of the AESO–(DCPD–UPE) resins as a function of the temperature were studied. The curing mechanism of the AESO–(DCPD–UPE) resins is discussed. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46212.
Published Version
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