Rubbers Based on Conjugated Soybean Oil: Synthesis and Characterization

A range of bio-based rubbery thermosets have been synthesized by the cationic copolymerization of conjugated soybean oil, styrene, and 1,5-hexadiene or isoprene as flexible cross-linkers. The thermal, and mechanical properties, as well as the wear behavior, of these new bio-rubbers are reported. The amount of styrene and the type of diene incorporated have the greatest influence on the properties of the final materials. The largest variations are found in glass transition temperature, storage modulus, tan delta values, crosslink density, and abrasive wear depth, while thermal degradation and extraction analyses showed minimal variations with changes in composition.