Vegetable Oil Monomer Crosslink Density via Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vegetable oil-derived monomers, when used alone as base resin monomers, result in thermoset polymers with poor mechanical properties due to their triglyceride structure, lacking sufficient modulus and strength for applications like composite matrix polymers and protective coatings.
Innovation Solution
Derivatization of vegetable oil fatty acids to introduce polymerizable groups closer together, increasing crosslink density by hydrolysis and subsequent acrylation or methacrylation, and incorporation of silane or epoxy functional groups to enhance the mechanical properties of the resulting thermoset resins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If vegetable oil-derived monomers are used alone as base resin monomers, then the polymer material has flexibility and toughness from long fatty acid chains, but the mechanical properties (modulus and strength) are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the long fatty acid chain into shorter segments by introducing hydrolysis to break the triglyceride structure, then reassembles these segments with polymerizable groups positioned closer together to create monomers with improved mechanical properties while maintaining flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite molecular structures by combining vegetable oil-derived fatty acid chains with rigid polymerizable groups (such as acrylate, methacrylate, silane, or epoxy groups), resulting in a hybrid monomer structure that integrates the flexibility of fatty acid chains with the strength of rigid functional groups
2Stability of the object's composition
If polymerizable groups are linked by long flexible fatty chains in triglyceride structure, then the monomer maintains flexibility, but the crosslinked polymer network has insufficient modulus and strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary derivatization of the fatty acid chains by introducing polymerizable groups at specific positions before polymerization, ensuring that the groups are positioned closer together to enable higher crosslink density and achieve both stability and strength in the final polymer network
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameters of the monomer by controlling the distance between polymerizable groups through selective derivatization of fatty acid chains, transforming the long-chain triglyceride structure into a configuration with closer-spaced functional groups that enable enhanced crosslinking and improved mechanical properties
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The approach leads to thermoset resins with improved strength and modulus, making them suitable for applications requiring durability and resilience, while maintaining a green, bio-based origin from plant sources like hempseed oil.
Implementation Method 1
Derivatization of vegetable oil fatty acids to introduce polymerizable groups closer together, increasing crosslink density by hydrolysis and subsequent acrylation or methacrylation
Implementation Method 2
subsequent acrylation or methacrylation, and incorporation of silane or epoxy functional groups
Implementation Method 3
subsequent acrylation or methacrylation, and incorporation of silane or epoxy functional groups
Implementation Method 4
increasing crosslink density by hydrolysis and subsequent acrylation or methacrylation, and incorporation of silane or epoxy functional groups to enhance the mechanical properties
Data Source
AI summary
The present embodiments herein generally relate to thermoset resins that are derived from vegetable oil based sources, including fibrous plant sources. The utilization of plant based oil as starting materials makes the technology a green alternative to currently available solutions. This, coupled with the novel synthetic methods that are utilized, results in a transformation of the plant based oils into useful, durable, and resilient thermoset resins.