Preparation and Characterization of a Novel Biodegradable Epoxy Resin Modified with Epoxidized Oleic Acid

The goal of this research was to study the curing behavior and biodegradability DER 736 modified with epoxidized oleic acid. In this paper we demonstrate the efficient epoxidation of oleic acid with performic acid generated in situ from formic acid and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of H2SO4 as catalyst. The highest relative epoxy yield of 61% was achieved at 40 ͦC after 10 h. DER 736 modified with epoxidized oleic acid was thermally cured using succinic anhydride as curing agent, in the presence of triethylamine. Also, degradation of new composite studied in the presence of three different loadings of epoxidized oleic acid (0, 20, and 40 wt %) with lipase from porcine pancreas in phosphate buffer. It was found that this agent caused reducing the weight of the samples in 45 days. SEM studies also revealed higher surface erosion phenomenon and structural change of the matrix with increasing epoxidized oleic acid.