Modification of hyperbranched epoxy by vegetable oil-based highly branched polyester resin

Modification of existing polymers by physico-chemical technique is not only interesting and useful to the academic community but the resulted product is attractive to industrial application too. In this investigation, hyperbranched epoxy was modified by vegetable oil-based highly branched polyester resin at different weight percentages and properties of the cured systems were evaluated in order to justify them as advanced thin film materials with high adhesive strength. Modified systems were studied using FTIR, XRD, TGA and SEM analyses. Curing reaction was confirmed by FTIR study and swelling test. Performance characteristics like tensile strength, impact strength, adhesive strength, flexibility, scratch hardness, gloss and chemical resistance of cured films have also been studied. Modified systems showed improved properties over pristine epoxy. Comparison study of modified systems showed that hyperbranched epoxy with 30 wt% polyester content is the best composition w.r.t performance and might be utilized in advanced thin film application.