Polyols and polyurethanes prepared from epoxidized soybean oil ring‐opened by polyhydroxy fatty acids with varying OH numbers

Bio‐based polyols from epoxidized soybean oil and different fatty acids were successfully prepared using a solvent‐free method in order to investigate the effect of the polyols' OH numbers on the thermal and mechanical properties of the polyurethanes prepared using them. Epoxidized soybean oil/epoxidized linseed oil was ring‐opened by methanol/glycol followed by saponification to prepare polyhydroxy fatty acids. These fatty acids and epoxidized soybean oil were then used for further solvent‐free ring‐opening reactions with DBU as catalyst, which facilitated the carboxylic ring‐opening. Gel permeation chromatography revealed that a molar ratio of carboxylic acid from polyhydroxy fatty aicds and epoxy group of 0.5 : 1 resulted in optimized polyols containing the smallest amounts of residual starting materials. The obtained polyols had varying OH numbers and the acquired polyurethane films were comprehensively characterized. With increasing OH number of the polyols the PUs displayed an increase in crosslinking density, glass transition temperature (T_g), tensile strength and Young's modulus, and a decrease in elongation and toughness. This work provides Supporting Information on the effect of OH number of polyols obtained via a solvent‐free ring‐opening method on the mechanical and thermal properties of polyurethanes, of particular interest when designing PU products for specific purposes. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41213.