INVESTIGATION OF BIOPLASTIC PROPERTIES DEVELOPED FROM ACRYLATE EPOXIDIZED SOYBEAN OIL THROUGH RING OPENING POLYMERIZATION PROCESS

Abstract

Soybean oil is one of the major vegetable oils containing more than 99% of triglycerides

of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and has become an interesting source to produce

bioplastic. This study investigates the synthesis and characterization of bioplastic

developed by the acrylate epoxidized soybean oil through ring opening polymerization

process. The mechanical properties of the samples were characterized using Fourier

Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric analysis and the physio-chemical

properties of the bioplastics were studied. In this study, the bioplastic made up from

soybean oil with the lowest glycerol concentration showed the best mechanical properties.