Limonene dioxide as a building block for 100% bio-based thermosets

This study valorises the benign epoxidation of (R)-(+)-limonene to generate novel bio-resourced limonene dioxide monomers. Without additional steps of separation or functionalization, the racemic limonene dioxide was cured with glutaric and dimethylglutaric anhydrides leading to thermosets with a high T-g (similar to 98 degrees C) and good mechanical properties (sigma = 27 MPa; epsilon = 3.5%; E = 1150 MPa; E ' = 1650 MPa, Shore D = 78).

Automated summary

This study valorizes the benign epoxidation of (R)-(+)-limonene to generate novel bio-resourced limonene dioxide monomers. The racemic limonene dioxide was cured with glutaric and dimethylglutaric anhydrides leading to thermosets with a high T-g and good mechanical properties.