Preparation of nanocomposites from biobased thermoset resins by UV-curing

Biobased thermoset resins were irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the presence of photoinitiators. Three different resins were evaluated—two resins were based on soybean oil and one was based on lactic acid. The cross-linking behaviour of these resins was characterized by real-time FTIR and Soxhlet extraction. All of the resins cured rapidly and formed rigid materials with a high degree of conversion. The cross-linked resins were characterized by mechanical testing, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) as well as dynamic-mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). The resins were reinforced with layered silicate, in order to form nanocomposite structures. The resulting composites were characterized by DMTA and tensile testing.