Abstract
ABSTRACTVinyl levulinate (VL) is used as a biobased reactive diluent in styrene (St)‐free unsaturated polyester resins (UPR). The reactivity ratios for the radical copolymerization of VL with diethyl fumarate (DEF) are determined by the Jaacks method (rVL = 0.01 and rDEF = 0.81 at 60 °C in DMSO‐d6). The properties of UPRs having a stoichiometric ratio between unsaturated groups from the UPR and either St or VL are compared. Defect‐free, slightly yellow, transparent, and rigid thermosets are obtained after a mild curing cycle. Due to unfavorable reactivity ratios about 5.5 wt % of unpolymerized VL remains inside the network and acts as plasticizer. Consequently, compared with St‐based ones, VL‐based UPRs exhibit lower α relaxation (Tα = 180 and 100 °C, respectively), lower elastic moduli at the rubbery plateau (G′ = 108 and 107 Pa) and lower mechanical properties as measured by three points bending tests. Strain at break (εf = 1.8 ± 0.2%) and Charpy impact strength (∼2.7 ± 0.3 kJ m−2) are comparable independently of the RD chemical nature. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 3356–3364
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