On the polymerisation of the epoxidised biodiesel: The importance of the epoxy rings position,the process and the products

Polyesters were prepared using epoxidised methyl esters of oleic acid (EP_OAME) and epoxidised biodiesel (mixture of methyl esters) from sunflower oil (EP_SOME) and linseed oil (EP_LOME) with cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride and triethylamine. The kinetic of partial processes involved in the polymerisation were elucidated and related to epoxy rings position in the fatty acid chain. The activation energies (E_a) for the epoxy ring opening by the catalyst are 298, 216 and 136 kJ/mol for EP_OAME, EP_SOME and EP_LOME respectively. The reactions of the epoxy rings in the positions C9–C10, C12–C13 and C15–C16 with anhydride require average activation energies of 116, 32 and 22 kJ/mol, respectively. The compensation effect between activation energy and pre-exponential factor is observed. The polymerisation enthalpy, molecular weight, glass transition temperature and electrical properties were determined. The polyesters studied show promising properties for use in various technological applications.