Special Functional Group Triglyceride Oil Based Interpenetrating Polymer Networks

Castor oil, vernonia oil, and a few other triglyceride oils contain special functional groups, such as hydroxyl or epoxide, which can be polymerized to make soft elastomers with glass transitions as low as -50°C. These can be combined with either amorphous polymers, such as polystyrene, to make IPNs, or with poly (ethylene terephthalate) PET, a crystallizable polymer, to make semi-IPNs. The latter compositions were investigated, finding that the triglyceride oils can improve the crystallization rate of the PET, and castor oil and vernonia oil networks can also serve to rubber-toughen the PET.