New polymers from epoxidized soybean oil with pyridine derivatives

In this study 4‐methylpyridine (4MP), 4‐vinylpyridine (4VP) and poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (P4VP) were separately reacted with epoxidized soybean oil triglycerides (ESO) to give plant oil based thermoset polymers. The addition reaction of pyridine with epoxide followed by a rearrangement results in formation of pyridone units and these were polymerized via a Diels–Alder reaction. DMA, DSC, TGA and IR spectroscopy were used for the characterization of the products. 4MP‐ESO, P4VP‐ESO and P4VP‐ESO‐in situ polymers were crosslinked yielding rigid infusible polymers. Glass transition temperatures (T_g) of 4MP‐ESO and P4VP‐ESO‐in situ were found as ?10.5 and 70.5 (32.3 as shoulder) °C respectively, by DMA analysis. Storage moduli of 4MP‐ESO and P4VP‐ESO‐in situ at 25°C were 13.7 and 187.2 MPa, respectively. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011