Facile Approach for the Synthesis of Performance-Advantaged Degradable Bio-Based Thermoset via Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization from Epoxidized Soybean Oil

Design and synthesis of polymeric materials from sustainable feedstocks can partly mitigate environmental polymer pollution, and hence, it has received constant attention. This work aims to synthesize a degradable bio-based thermoset via ring-opening metathesis polymer-ization (ROMP) from epoxidized soybean oil (ESO). ESO was converted to norbornene-functionalized ESO first, and then, this functionalized ESO was rapidly generated to a thermoset via ROMP. The ESO-based thermoset exhibits promising thermal properties and mechanical perform-ance, is available for fabrication of composites, and can be fully degraded into small molecules and oligomeric species under aqueous NaOH or KOH. Moreover, the functionalized ESO can copolymerize with norbornene to form partially degradable copolymers. This approach can be used to synthesize degradable vegetable oil-based thermosets for various applications and for environmental sustainability.

Automated summary

Design and synthesis of degradable bio-based thermosets from epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) were carried out. The ESO-based thermosets showed promising thermal and mechanical properties, were suitable for composite fabrication, and could be fully degraded under aqueous NaOH or KOH. The functionalized ESO also exhibited copolymerization capabilities with norbornene, forming partially degradable copolymers. This approach offers potential for the synthesis of degradable vegetable oil-based thermosets for various applications and environmental sustainability.