Thermosets from highly functional methacrylated epoxidized sucrose soyate

Highly functional biobased methacrylate oligomers were synthesized via the reaction between methacrylic acid and epoxidized sucrose soyate (ESS); then, biobased thermosets were produced from free-radical curing of these methacrylates using styrene as a reactive diluent. The methacrylated ESS resins (MESSs) were characterized using gel permeation chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and viscosity measurements. MESS were mixed with styrene at different ratios and cured by free-radical polymerization using peroxides as the initiators to form thermosets. The extent of cure was confirmed by FTIR and gel content determinations. The properties of the thermosets were studied using tensile testing, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. Compared to their counterparts based on a reference, methacrylated epoxidized soybean oil, thermosets based on MESS showed much higher glass transition temperature (T_g) and better mechanical properties, which can be attributed to the unique combination of high methacrylate functionality and the rigid sucrose core in the MESS oligomers.