Abstract:
This research aimed to synthesize polyester from epoxidized vegetable oils at various temperatures (110-240°C). Epoxidized Soybean oil, palm oil and sunflower oil were synthesized via epoxidation reaction with peracetic acid. The percent conversion of epoxidized soybean oil, palm oil and sunflower oil were 86%, 78% and 87%, respectively. The polyesters from epoxidized soybean, palm and sunflower oils could be synthesized without flowing Ar gas in glycerol and phthalic anhydride at ratio 1.1:1:1.5 in the absence of catalyst. It was found that the polyesters were synthesized at above 110°C. The molecular weight of synthesized polyesters were in the range of 1.19x105-10.5x105. The tensile strength, elongation, Youngs modulus and hardness of polyesters were also investigated.