Synthesis of Biodegradable Unsaturated Polyester Resin Using Soybean Fatty Acid as an Acidic Monomer

Abstract

In recent years, many researches have been performed on issues that affect human life. Polymers, despite of huge applications in different industries, have been considered for their long-term degradation and their negative effects on environment. Many efforts have been performed to produce environmentally friendly resins. One of the newest types of these materials are biodegradable resins. In this research, biodegradable unsaturated polyester resin was synthesized. For this purpose, soybean oil, a natural fatty acid, was selected to be used as partial replacement of acidic monomer (i.e. maleic and/or phthalic anhydride). The replacing content changed from 0 wt% to 20 wt% and its effect on the mechanical properties of the cured resin was assessed. FTIR and NMR analysis were used to characterize chemical structure of the produced biodegradable resins. For better understanding, a general purpose unsaturated polyester resin as control sample was produced and its mechanical properties compared to the biodegradable samples.