1. Vegetable Oils as Polymer Feedstocks NF0513 Rapeseed oil AIMS: Evaluate and compare the potential of both rapeseed and Euphorbia oil as feedstocks for use in the polymer industry (including types of materials produced, their properties and their economics) Euphorbia oil

5. POLYMERISATION THREE CLASSES of RESIN RAPESEED HYDROXYLATED RESIN (RASOR) EUPHORBIA HIGH HYDROXYLATED RESIN (EURE) EUPHORBIA LOW HYDROXYLATED RESIN (low-EURE) DI-ISOCYANATES MDI TDI COMPOSITES HEMP MISCANTHUS FLAX COMPRESSION MOULDING

6. Feedstock analysis 1H 400MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance 13C 100 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Fourier Transform Infra Red Spectroscopy Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation-Time Of Flight Mass Spectrometry Electrospray Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry Elemental analysis Gel Permeation Chromatography Polymer Analysis Differential Scanning Calorimetry Thermal Gravimetric Analysis Scanning Electron Microscopy Property Analysis Instron Tensile testing machine Weatherometer Biodegradability studies

7. THERMAL GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS OF MATERIALS RAPESEEDEUPHORBIA

8. THERMAL GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS OF MATERIALS RAPESEEDEUPHORBIA

9. STRESS-STRAIN CURVES RAPESEEDEUPHORBIA Composite typeTensile Strength (MPa) Young’s Modulus (GPa) Strain (%) Charpy Impact (kJ/m 2 ) Hemp-rapeseed30.890.787.3810.27 Hemp-euphorbia37.471.056.928.91

10. SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY RAPESEED PU RAPESEED-HEMP COMPOSITE EUPHORBIA PU EUPHORBIA-HEMP COMPSITE

11. WEATHERABILITY NO evidence of major decomposition after 6 months simulated Solar UV radiation BIODEGRADABILITY Samples buried in bags 6 x 6 cm (pore size 20 micron) Bags recovered after three and six weeks Weight loss and colonising flora analysis SampleWeight loss after 6 weeks [%] Euphorbia polyurethane (EURE)15.2 Rapeseed polyurethane/hemp composite (hemp-RASOR) 52.2 Euphorbia polyurethane/hemp composite (hemp-EURE) 50.3 Rapeseed polyurethane (EURE)12.4

12. 123 4 5 6 7 8 910111213 1 = ladder DNA, 2-5 = soil DNA, 6-9 = 3 wks, 10-13 = 6 wks 6, 10 = microflora DNA from EURE 7, 11 = microflora DNA from hemp-RASOR 8, 12 = microflora DNA fromhemp-EURE 9, 13 = microflora DNA from RASOR BIODEGRADABILITY RASOR SEM 1= 3 weeks hemp-EURE 2= 3 weeks hemp-RASOR 3= 6 weeks hemp-EURE 4= 6 weeks hemp-RASOR 1 2 3 4

13. Economics. Current work is about to focus upon comparing the economics / competitiveness / market opportunities of materials prepared from the above vegetable oils with those from commercial sources. The outputs of this objective will be: A full cost/benefit analysis for each of the oils in terms of procedure, time and consumables costs. Quantification of the benefits of each approach in terms of environmental protection Identification of an acceptable premium for the provision of renewable/biodegradable materials A list of potential users of the materials and a schedule for exploitation if appropriate.

14. Future work Polymers from low hydroxylated euphorbia. In depth biodegradation studies. Can we control rate of degradation? Use of other fibre crops. Use of fillers (rapemeal) Synthesis of biopolystyrene from vegetable oils Blending of existing polymers with renewable polymers, properties, economics. Portfolio of materials from renewables to showcase to industry

15. A range of materials from rapeseed oil and euphorbia oil have been prepared and analysed. Properties of materials produced differ depending upon the type of oil used. Fibre composites of resins give superior properties to resins alone. Biodegradability may be controllable The increased range of materials available from this project will broaden the portfolio of potential industrial applications of materials from renewables which should lead to an increased value added market for fibres and oil crops in the UK agricultural sector. Euphorbia lagascae is a potential new crop for renewable materials production, and is investigating economic ways of producing new chemical feedstocks and polymers from UK crops. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

16. Chemistry Department, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL Dr. A. J. Clark*, Project leader, Chemistry, monomer production Dr. L. Mwaikambo, Polymer synthesis and characterisation Prof. T. J. Kemp,Weatherometry Mrs. A. Mohd Rus,Weatherometry Advanced Technology Centre, Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, Dr. N. J. Tucker,Composites, mechanical testing Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, Dr. M. Krsek,Biodegradability Prof. E. M. H. Wellington,Biodegradability ADAS (Euphorbia supplier) Mr. D. Turley,Formally of ADAS, High Mowthorpe, Duggleby, Malton, N Yorks, YO17 8BP. Dr. R. M. WeightmanADAS Consultancy Ltd, Battlegate Road, Boxworth, Cambs, CB3 8NN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS