Vegetable Oil-Based Polymeric Materials: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications

Concerns about crude oil depletion and dependence on foreign oil have sparked an interest for alternatives for the preparation of polymers. The recent awareness of the pollution caused by common plastics also contributes to the interest in the research of vegetable oil-based materials. In this review, the structural aspects of vegetable oils are covered, followed by a presentation of the most common types of polymers produced from triglycerides. Lastly, the reinforcement of vegetable oil-based polymers with natural fibers and inorganic materials is reviewed. The review concludes with a perspective on the current use of vegetable oil-based materials in commercial applications.