Issue 6, 2013
From the journal:

Green Chemistry

Soy-castor oil based polyols prepared using a solvent-free and catalyst-free method and polyurethanes therefrom†

Chaoqun Zhang,a   Ying Xia,a   Ruqi Chen,a   Seungmoo Huh,b   Patrick A. Johnstonc  and  Michael R. Kessler*ade  

* Corresponding authors

a Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
E-mail: mkessler@iastate.edu

b Kumho Petrochemical R&BD Center, Daejeon, South Korea

c Center for Sustainable Environmental Technologies, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA

d Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA

e Ames Laboratory, US Department of Energy, Ames, IA, USA

Abstract

Bio-based polyols from epoxidized soybean oil and castor oil fatty acid were developed using an environmentally friendly, solvent-free/catalyst-free method. The effects of the molar ratios of the carboxyl to the epoxy groups, reaction time, and reaction temperature on the polyols’ structures were systematically studied. Subsequently, polyurethane films were prepared from these green polyols. Properties of the new, soy-castor oil based polyurethane films were compared with two other polyurethane films prepared from castor oil and methoxylated soybean oil polyol, respectively. Thermal and mechanical tests showed that the polyurethane films prepared from the new polyols exhibited higher glass transition temperatures, tensile strength, Young's modulus, and thermal stability because of the higher degree of cross-linking in the new polyols. Moreover, the novel polyols, prepared using the solvent-free and catalyst-free synthetic route, were 100% bio-based and facilitate a more environmentally friendly and economical process than conventional soy-based polyols used for polyurethane production.

Graphical abstract: Soy-castor oil based polyols prepared using a solvent-free and catalyst-free method and polyurethanes therefrom

About
Cited by
Related
Download options Please wait...

Supplementary files

Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3GC40531A
Article type
Communication
Submitted
20 Mar 2013
Accepted
12 Apr 2013
First published
12 Apr 2013

Green Chem., 2013,15, 1477-1484

Permissions

Request permissions

Soy-castor oil based polyols prepared using a solvent-free and catalyst-free method and polyurethanes therefrom

C. Zhang, Y. Xia, R. Chen, S. Huh, P. A. Johnston and M. R. Kessler, Green Chem., 2013, 15, 1477 DOI: 10.1039/C3GC40531A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements