STRUCTURAL AND THERMAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SYNTHESIZED POLYESTER RESIN BASED ON A NEW LINSEED VARIETY (SHUATS-ALSI 2)

In recent times, industrial as well as academic researchers are trying to develop bio-based polyesters as a better alternative for petroleum-based ones. Their main goal is to synthesize materials that can lead to biodegradation with comparable performance. Plant oil serves as an eco-friendly, renewable natural resource and exhibits some remarkable properties. They are readily available in nature, sustainable and inexpensive. Vegetable oil-based polyesters are almost equally applicable as petroleum-based polyester. Vegetable oil-modified polyesters have been studied over a long period. Continuous researches are undertaken to utilize the commonly used vegetable oils and new oils are also explored for their possibility to be used in producing polymers. In the present work, unsaturated polyester resin (UPRs) based on new linseed variety (SHUATS-ALSI 2) was synthesized. Structural and thermal properties were studied and compared with commercially available resins. FT-IR and 1 H-NMR spectroscopy was applied to explore the chemical structure of synthesized resin. TGA analysis reveals comparable thermal stability of both resins i.e. synthesized and commercial. TGA curve was further considered to evaluate Ts and IPDT parameters.