ARS | Publication request: SOLID FREEFORM FABRICATION OF EPOXIDIZED SOYBEAN OIL/EPOXY COMPOSITE WITH BIS OR POLYALKYLENEAMINE CURING AGENTS

Submitted to: Composites Part A Applied Science and Manufacturing
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: January 13, 2006
Publication Date: January 15, 2007
Citation: Liu, Z., Erhan, S.Z., Calvert, P. 2007. Solid freeform fabrication of epoxidized soybean oil/epoxy composite with bis or polyalkyleneamine curing agents. Composites: Part A 38:87-93.

Interpretive Summary: The importance of natural products for industrial applications becomes very clear with increasing social emphasis on the issues of environment, waste disposal and depleting non-renewable resources. Development of economically feasible new industrial products from vegetable oils or commercial processes is highly desirable. Among products from vegetable oils, soybean oil may constitute main raw materials because of its low cost, easy availability and possible biodegradability. The purpose of this work is to investigate the preparation of soybean oil/epoxy based composites. The mixture of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) and epoxy resin are solidified with curing agents. The high strength and stiffness composites are formed through fiber reinforcement, such as glass, carbon and mineral fibers. The shapes of composites can be formed without molds using a method called the solid freeform fabrication method. Effect of curing temperature, fiber loading, and two types of fibers on the mechanical properties of composites are studied.

Technical Abstract: Extrusion freeform fabrication has been used to make bars of fiber-reinforced epoxidized soybean oil (ESO)/epoxy resin. Freeform fabrication methods build materials by the repetitive addition of thin layers. The mixture of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) and epoxy resin are modified with a gelling agent to solidify the materials until curing occurs. The high strength and stiffness composites are formed through fiber reinforcement. Glass, carbon and mineral fibers are used in the formulations. It is shown that the fiber orientation follows the direction of motion of the write head that deposits the resins and has a large influence on the properties of the composite. In addition, the effects of curing agents, curing temperature, epoxy/ESO ration, and fiber loading on mechanical properties of composites are studied and reported.