Development of novel phosphorus‐containing epoxy resins from renewable resources

Novel biobased epoxy resins were prepared from two fatty acid derivatives; epoxidized 10‐undecenoyl triglyceride and epoxidized methyl 3,4,5‐tris(10‐undecenoyloxy)benzoate, with 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane as a crosslinking agent. The flame retardancy of these epoxy resins was improved by the addition of 10‐[2′, 5′‐bis(9‐oxiranyl‐nonayloxy)phenyl]‐9,10‐dihydro‐9‐oxa‐10‐phosphaphenanthrene‐10‐oxide and by crosslinking with a phosphorus‐containing curing agent, bis(m‐aminophenyl)methylphosphine oxide. The thermal, thermomechanical, and flame‐retardant properties of the cured materials were measured with differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis, and the limiting oxygen index. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6717–6727, 2006