Maleated soybean oil based thermoset resin with propylene glycol as monomer in the preparation of low volatile organic compound films.

Maleated soybean oil (MSO), was used as production of eco-friendly thermoset resins. Sample of Epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) was initially reacted with maleic anhydride, hydroquinone and ethanol in a reaction vessel at 70°C for 150 minutes by using mechanical stirrer at 300 rpm. The esterification process of maleated soybean oil (MSO) was observed by Oxirane Oxygen Content (OOC) and Acid Value (AV) determination via wet titration. The mixture of MSO, propylene glycol (PG) as a curing agent and 3-triethoxysylilpropilamine (TP) as a catalyst were stirred in a beaker at 60°C for 15 minutes to produce thermoset films. Three formulation ratios of PG to TP were used (30PG:70TP, 50PG:50TP, 70PG:30TP). The viscosity test, Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) test, pencil hardness and gel content test was used to evaluate the performance of the films. FTIR results for MSO were confirmed by the existence of 3321.6 cm⁻¹ represents the OH functional group, while the peak at 1757 cm⁻¹ is an ester C=O functional group indicates the successful of esterification process. The wavenumber at 3458.11 cm^-1, 3452.60 cm^-1 and 3457.98 cm^-1 corresponded to the hydroxyl group that exist in the structure of MSO films. MSO produced 3% VOC content indicates that it is safe to use as bio-based coating as it emits low emission of VOC. The sample with the best films properties is 70PG:30TP which lead to get H hardness and has 90% gel content. This could be representative for the maximum crosslinking degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]