Sustainable Alternatives for the Development of Thermoset Composites with Low Environmental Impact

The current concerns of both society and the materials industries about the environmental impact of thermoset composites, as well as new legislation, have led the scientific sector to search for more sustainable alternatives to reduce the environmental impact of thermoset composites. Until now, to a large extent, sustainable reinforcements have been used to manufacture more sustainable composites and thus contribute to the reduction of pollutants. However, in recent years, new alternatives have been developed, such as thermosetting resins with bio-based content and/or systems such as recyclable amines and vitrimers that enable recycling/reuse. Throughout this review, some new bio-based thermoset systems as well as new recyclable systems and sustainable reinforcements are described, and a brief overview of the biocomposites market and its impact is shown. By way of conclusion, it should be noted that although significant improvements have been achieved, other alternatives ought to be researched.

Automated summary

The concerns over the environmental impact of thermoset composites and new legislation have driven the scientific sector to search for sustainable alternatives. Sustainable reinforcements have been widely used to manufacture more sustainable composites, but new alternatives such as bio-based thermosetting resins and recyclable systems have emerged. This review explores these new systems as well as sustainable reinforcements and discusses the biocomposites market and its impact. While significant improvements have been made, further research into alternative solutions is necessary.