| Abstract: | Biobased neat epoxy materials containing functionalized vegetable oils (FVO), such as epoxidized linseed oil (ELO) and epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), were processed with an anhydride curing agent. A percentage of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F (DGEBF) was replaced by ELO or ESO. The selection of the DGEBF, FVO, and an anhydride‐curing agent resulted in an excellent combination to produce a new biobased epoxy material having a high elastic modulus and high glass transition temperature. Izod impact strength and fracture toughness were significantly improved dependent on FVO content, which produced a phase‐separated morphology. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 45:487–495, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers |
