Soybean and castor oil based monomers: Synthesis and copolymerization with styrene

In this study, castor oil was alcoholyzed with both aliphatic alcohols, such as glycerol and pentaerythritol, and an aromatic alcohol, bisphenol A propoxylate. The resulting alcoholysis products were then malinated and cured in the presence of styrene. Soybean oil pentaerythritol glyceride maleates were also prepared for a direct comparison of the properties of the castor oil and soybean oil based resins. Castor oil was directly malinated as well to see the effect of the alcoholysis step on the properties of the castor oil based resins. The monomers synthesized were characterized by 1H‐NMR spectroscopy, and the styrenated resin liquid properties, such as viscosity and surface energy values, were determined. The conversion of polymerization was determined using time resolved FTIR analysis for the styrenated soybean oil pentaerythritol glyceride maleates, castor oil maleates, and castor oil pentaerythritol glyceride maleates. The effect of monomer identity and styrene content on the conversion of polymerization was explored.