Epoxidized rosin acids as co-precursors for epoxy resins

A series of novel epoxy resins were prepared from chemically modified rosin, mainly constituted of abietic acid, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) in different percentages as co-reactants, and isophorone diamine as cross-linking agent. Reactive epoxide groups were introduced in the structure of this common pine tree derivative. The chemical structures of various epoxidized rosin acids precursors were confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis were used to determine the glass transition temperature and the elastic modulus of the cured epoxy resins. Relatively rigid materials with thermo-mechanical properties depending on the structure of rosin acid derivatives and their ratios with DGEBA were obtained. Epoxy precursors based on renewable rosin can be efficiently used as co-additives of DGEBA for epoxy products.