Synthesis and Characterization of the Different Soy‐Based Polyols by Ring Opening of Epoxidized Soybean Oil with Methanol, 1,2‐Ethanediol and 1,2‐Propanediol

Three soy‐based polyols intended for application in polyurethanes were prepared by ring opening the epoxy groups in epoxidized soybean oil (ESO, 0.385 mol/100 g epoxy rings) with methanol, 1,2‐ethanediol and 1,2‐propanediol in the presence of tetrafluoroboric acid catalyst. The effect of the different opening reaction reagents, different low molecular weight alcohols, on the polyols was investigated by spectroscopic, chemical and physical methods. The viscosities, viscous‐flow activation energies, molecular weight and melting point of the samples increased in the following order: polyol (3) > polyol (2) > polyol (1) > ESO [polyol (1); polyol (2) and polyol (3) represented the samples synthesized from the same epoxidized soybean oil generated by opening reactions with methanol, 1,2‐ethanediol and 1,2‐propanediol, respectively]. All the samples were crystalline solids below their melting temperature, displaying multiple melting point peaks. Compared with polyol (1), polyol (2) had a primary hydroxyl group, promoting the reactive activity of the polyol with isocyanates; polyol (3) contained large numbers of hydroxy groups, improving the properties of polyurethanes.