Rubber-toughening epoxy thermosets with epoxidized crambe oil

Epoxidized crambe oil and rapeseed oil were synthesized by reaction of the oils with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid. Formulating the neat epoxidized oils with epoxy-amine systems gave two-phase thermosets with epoxidized crambe o il, but not with epoxidized rapeseed oil. Glass transition temperature, mec hanical properties, and fracture toughness of the epoxidized crambe oil the rmoset specimen were measured. Fracture toughness values of the epoxy therm osets were increased approximately 100% by both 5 and 10% epoxidized crambe oil. Glass transition temperature and mechanical properties were affected only modestly.