Sustainable epoxy resins derived from plant oils with thermo- and chemo-responsive shape memory behavior

Shape-memory epoxy resins were synthesized using plant oils and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). Epoxidized soybean homopolymers (PESBMA) were grafted from CNCs using surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). The polymer grafted CNCs were combined with P(ESBMA-co-SBMA) copolymer and cured using anhydride to prepare epoxy resins. Controlling weight fractions of CNCs and ratios of epoxide to anhydride provided tunability over mechanical and thermal properties. The grafted polymer nanocomposites were also compared to simple blends to confirm better properties of the grafted system. Thermo- and chemo-responsive shape memory properties were obtained for these materials.