Epoxidized Castor Oil-Based Thermosets with Reprocessable and Non-Reprocessable Properties
Category
Sciences and Technology
Department
Polymer Chemistry
Student Status
Graduate
Research Advisor
Dr. Ram Gupta
Document Type
Event
Location
Student Center Ballroom
Start Date
10-4-2025 2:00 PM
End Date
10-4-2025 4:00 PM
Description
Castor oil-based polymers have gained significant attention due to their renewable nature, low cost, and ease of processing, making them ideal for various applications, including biofuels and the petrochemical industry. Among these, epoxidized castor oil (ECO)-based thermosets have been extensively studied for their promising mechanical and thermal properties. This study focuses on recent advancements in ECO thermosets synthesized with 4,4- dithiodianiline (DTDA) which has aromatic disulfide bonds and 4,4-ditaminodiphenylmethane (DMPM) which has methylene bridge. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the successful incorporation of epoxy functionalities into castor oil. The structure-reactivity relationship was examined through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), which reveals that ECO_DMPM based thermosets exhibit higher glass transition (Tg) range compared to ECO_DTDA due to methylene group. The thermomechanical performance of the cured thermosets was investigated using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) shows that ECO-DMPM thermosets have the highest storage modulus, indicating superior mechanical strength and stiffness, compared to DTDA thermosets. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Indicates good thermal stability across all thermosets, with degradation onset temperatures above 350 oC, though the presence of sulfur bonds may slightly reduce thermal stability. Tensile testing and GEL fraction measurements revealed strong correlations between monomer reactivity and final material properties. Moreover, the study highlighted the non-reprocessable nature of the ECO_DMPM thermosets. distinguishing them from other sustainable polymer systems. Their highly crosslinked structures limit recyclability but enhance their thermal and mechanical stability. The dynamic disulfide bonds in ECO_DTDA enable reprocessability, allowing the thermosets to be reshaped without significant performance loss.
Epoxidized Castor Oil-Based Thermosets with Reprocessable and Non-Reprocessable Properties
Student Center Ballroom
Castor oil-based polymers have gained significant attention due to their renewable nature, low cost, and ease of processing, making them ideal for various applications, including biofuels and the petrochemical industry. Among these, epoxidized castor oil (ECO)-based thermosets have been extensively studied for their promising mechanical and thermal properties. This study focuses on recent advancements in ECO thermosets synthesized with 4,4- dithiodianiline (DTDA) which has aromatic disulfide bonds and 4,4-ditaminodiphenylmethane (DMPM) which has methylene bridge. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the successful incorporation of epoxy functionalities into castor oil. The structure-reactivity relationship was examined through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), which reveals that ECO_DMPM based thermosets exhibit higher glass transition (Tg) range compared to ECO_DTDA due to methylene group. The thermomechanical performance of the cured thermosets was investigated using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) shows that ECO-DMPM thermosets have the highest storage modulus, indicating superior mechanical strength and stiffness, compared to DTDA thermosets. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Indicates good thermal stability across all thermosets, with degradation onset temperatures above 350 oC, though the presence of sulfur bonds may slightly reduce thermal stability. Tensile testing and GEL fraction measurements revealed strong correlations between monomer reactivity and final material properties. Moreover, the study highlighted the non-reprocessable nature of the ECO_DMPM thermosets. distinguishing them from other sustainable polymer systems. Their highly crosslinked structures limit recyclability but enhance their thermal and mechanical stability. The dynamic disulfide bonds in ECO_DTDA enable reprocessability, allowing the thermosets to be reshaped without significant performance loss.
