New Vinyl Ester Bio‐copolymers Derived from Dimer Fatty Acids: Preparation, Characterization and Properties

Two different vinyl ester resin monomers derived from dimer fatty acids (DA), dimer fatty acids polymerized glycidyl methacrylate (DA‐p‐GMA) resin and maleic anhydride modified dimer fatty acids polymerized glycidyl methacrylate (MA‐m‐DA‐p‐GMA) resin were prepared via simple ring‐opening and esterification. FTIR, ¹H‐NMR and GPC results demonstrated that these two target products have been successfully synthesized. Moreover, DA‐based vinyl ester resin–styrene copolymers with different weight ratios were also prepared by a thermal polymerization, and their mechanical, morphological and thermal properties were investigated. Mechanical tests displayed that the prepared copolymers had excellent mechanical properties, and even at a low styrene content of 30 wt%, the copolymers still had excellent flexural strength of 29.14 MPa and tensile strength of 15.99 MPa. Micro‐morphological investigation displayed that the copolymers had glossy and smooth impact resistance fractured surfaces, indicating distinctive fast brittle fracture features. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) revealed that the copolymers’ glass‐transition temperatures were within a broad range from 44 to 72 °C. Thermogravimetric results demonstrated that the copolymers had excellent thermal stability, as all copolymers showed a high thermal initial decomposition temperature above 390 °C.