Drexel University

US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Ppg Industries Ohio, Inc.

Fengshuo Hu

Giuseppe Raffaello Palmese

John Joseph La Scala

Santosh K Yadav

Carl Allen Seneker

Xing Geng

Qin Li

Max Molleo

Wenchao Zhang

Jr Edward R Millero

Santosh Kumar Yadav

Grafted triglycerides comprising a triglyceride grafted with a fatty acid residue containing 4 to 30 carbon atoms are reacted with an epoxide resin and an amine curing agent to yield an epoxy thermoset. The grafted triglyceride is prepared by reaction of an epoxidized triglyceride with a fatty acid. By varying the length of the fatty residue, the number of fatty residues per triglyceride, the identity of the epoxy resin and the amine curing agent, it is possible to prepare epoxy thermosets that exhibit superior physical properties compared to the properties of epoxy thermosets prepared without the grafted triglyceride, or as compared to epoxy thermosets wherein the epoxidized triglyceride is used in place of the grafted triglyceride.

Toughening of epoxy thermosets

Grafted triglycerides prepared from an epoxidized triglyceride and an acid anhydride containing 4 to 40 carbon atoms are reacted with an epoxy resin and an anhydride curing agent to yield an epoxy thermoset. By varying the length of fatty residues on the grafted triglyceride, the number of fatty residues per triglyceride, the identity of the epoxy resin and the anhydride curing agent, it is possible to prepare epoxy thermosets that exhibit superior physical properties compared to the properties of epoxy thermosets prepared without the grafted triglyceride, or as compared to epoxy thermosets wherein the epoxidized triglyceride is used in place of the grafted triglyceride. A significant improvement in fracture toughness with a minimal reduction of glass transition temperature may be thus achieved.

Toughening of anhydride cured thermosetting epoxy polymers using grafted triglycerides

Growing community of inventors

Mason, OH, United States of America

Fengshuo Hu