Synthetic Modification of Sunflower Oil

This report is based on the synthesis of thermoset resins from sunflower oil. Sunflower oil with an iodine value of 120 g I / 100 g oil containing 30 % oleic acid and 59 % linoleic acid was epoxidized by reaction with a peroxy acid (formed in-situ by the reaction between hydrogen peroxide and formic acid). The ratio of ethylenic unsaturation to hydrogen peroxide to formic acid used was 1:1.5:0.5. The maximum conversion of iodine generated was 82.45 % for seven h of epoxidation at 65 °C, and the oxirane oxygen content at that same condition was 4.6 %. Thermoset resins synthesized from sunflower oil were further modified using acrylic acid. All the resins generated were characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy. The results showed that the generated resins could be used in composite production for automobile, construction, and furniture applications