EPOXIDATED RUBBER SEED OIL AND SOY AS EFFECTIVE MODIFIERS OF EPOXY POLYMERS

The search for rational areas of industrial use of rubber seed oil for the countries of Southeast Asia, South America and Africa, where Hevea brasiliensis grows in vast areas, is of great practical and scientific interest, both from ecological, economic and technical points of view. In this regard, the studies of the preparation and the use of epoxidized rubber seed oil are important. Due to the presence of double bonds, this vegetable oil is relatively easily functionalized. The epoxidation of rubber seed oil was carried out by us with hydrogen peroxide under the conditions of interphase catalysis in the presence of tungsten-containing catalysts. Epoxidized vegetable oils are of great interest as reactive modifiers for epoxy-diane polymers. For comparison with ERSO, industrial epoxidized soybean oil was investigated. Modification by both epoxidized rubber seed oil and epoxidized soybean oil of epoxy compositions cured with amines of different chemical structure, causes a significant increase in their hardness, wear resistance and improved antifriction indicators. The content of the gel fraction is reduced, that is, the density of the cross-linked structure of epoxy coatings formed in the presence of epoxidized rubber seed oil and soybean oil, which are partially included in the structure, and partially perform the functions of plasticizing agents, decreases. A similar effect was found when epoxy polymers modifying with epoxidized palm trees oil. The decrease cross-linked density of epoxy polymers modified with epoxidized vegetable oils causes an increase in the mobility of the elements of the structure, due to the presence of flexible fragments in the modifiers. This greatly make easier the relaxation processes in the composition, which helps to reduce internal stresses and improve properties. Moreover, epoxidized soybean oil to a greater extent reduces wear and friction coefficient of epoxy coatings, compared with epoxidized rubber seed oil.