Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha

University of Michigan

University of Delaware

Selim Kusefoglu

Richard Patrick Wool

Robert Zand

Shrikant N Khot

Giuseppe Palmese

Ralph Zhao

Shinji Nezu

The synthesis of liquid molding resins derived from plant oils that are capable of curing to high modulus thermosetting polymers and composites is described in this invention. The resins described resemble the unsaturated polyester, vinyl ester and epoxy resins presently used as the polymer matrix material in high performance glass, carbon, aramid and natural fiber reinforced composite materials. The resins disclosed herein are suitable for polymer and composite manufacture by Resin Transfer Molding (RTM), Reaction Injection Molding (RIM), Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM), Seeman's Composite Resin Infusion Manufacturing Process (SCRIMP), Atmospheric Pressure Molding (APM), open mold casting, spray-up, Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) Bulk Molding Compound (BMC), filament winding, pultrusion, prepregs, lamination and compression molding. The resins in this invention are synthesized predominantly from plant--in particular, from the abundant and cheap, soybean--triglycerides with suitable comonomers and reactants that functionalize and render the plant triglyceride polymerizable. The polymerization reactions involve free radical initiated addition, condensation or ring opening polymerization. The functionalized triglycerides is used in conjunction with reactive diluents, accelerators, viscosity modifiers, cross-linking, toughening and coupling agents. The liquid resins are then mixed with initiators, catalysts and the reinforcing fibers and chain extended or cross-linked to give the final cured composite.

High modulus polymers and composites from plant oils

Novel polymers containing 6,6,6-tricyclic moieties pendant from the polymer backbone, their novel monomers, and novel conductive polymers formed by doping the novel polymers with an electron acceptor compound. The novel polymers are easily synthesized, are soluble in various solvents, and are more stable than conductive polymers having the tricyclics as repeating units in the polymer backbone. A preferred tricyclic is phenothiazine.

Electroactive materials

Growing community of inventors

Istanbul, Turkey

Selim Kusefoglu