Synthesis of novel bio‐based vinyl ester from dicyclopentadiene prepolymer, cashew nut shell liquid, and soybean oil

Abstract

In this article, for the first time, a vinyl ester (VE) polymer was synthesized from epoxidized dicyclopentadiene prepolymer (Tactix) with bio‐based methacrylic monomers from cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL) and soybean oil. The functionalization of Tactix with methacrylic groups was carried out directly in the presence of CNSL or soybean oil which play two roles. Firstly, they act as solvents during the methacrylation reaction. After methacrylation, they act as reactive diluents to reduce the viscosity of formulation and copolymerize during cross‐linking of VE networks. This process is very interesting and avoids the use of a solvent for the methacrylation of the VE prepolymer. Four VE networks have been prepared with different proportions of reactive diluents. The obtained materials exhibit good thermal stability, up to 300°C and T α values from 100 to 130°C. Practical application: The bio‐based methacrylated monomers described in this contribution, i.e.: methacrylated cardanol from CNSL and methacrylated soybean oil, provided new bio‐based building blocks for further free radical polymerizations with vinyl ester polymers. The obtained vinyl ester networks with Tactix dicyclopentadiene polymers are partially biobased and may be used as binders in composite applications to replace diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A‐styrene VE materials. Synthesis of vinyl ester material from Tactix, cashew nutshell liquid, and soybean oil.