Elastomer Derived From Epoxidized Vegetable Oil
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
InventorZengshe Liu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is an elastomer synthesized by a reacting epoxidized vegetable oil with carboxylic acid to form the elastomer compound. More specifically, disclosed herein is an elastomer compound having a polyester component. The method for making the elastomer comprises mixing a polybasic acid with an alcohol solvent to form a solution, reacting said solution having carboxylic groups with epoxidized vegetable oil, and heating the solution at a range of approximately 50° C. to 80° C., wherein an amorphous polyester elastomer is formed. Also disclosed is an elastomer foam product formed by a reacting epoxidized vegetable oil with carboxylic acid.
Claims22
A method for making an elastomer compound having an amorphous polyester component, the method comprising:
- a) mixing a dicarboxylic acid or tricarboxylic acid with an alcohol solvent to form a solution,
- b) reacting said solution having carboxylic groups with epoxidized vegetable oil wherein the epoxy group present in the epoxidized vegetable oil to the carboxylic group present in the solution is at a molar ratio of approximately 1:0.8 to approximately 1:1.5,
- c) heating the solution at a range of approximately 50° C. to 80° C., wherein an amorphous polyester is synthesized;
- and
- d) extracting the alcohol solvent to leave an elastomer compound having an amorphous polyester component, wherein the elastomer compound has a glass transition temperature of between −21° C. and −13° C.
A method for producing a foam elastomer material having a polyester component, the method comprising:
- a) mixing a dicarboxylic acid or tricarboxylic acid with an alcohol solvent to form a solution,
- b) reacting said solution having carboxylic groups with epoxidized vegetable oil wherein the epoxy group present in the epoxidized vegetable oil to the carboxylic group present in the solution is at a molar ratio of approximately 1:0.8 to approximately 1:1.5,
- c) heating the solution at a range of approximately 50° C. to 80° C.;
- and
- d) extracting the alcohol solvent and adding salt to the solution wherein a foam elastomer material having an amorphous polyester component formed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.