Preparation and Characterization of Highly Bio-Based Epoxy Amine Thermosets Derived from Lignocellulosics

The development of chemicals from renewable sources as replacements for current toxic and unsustainable petrochemicals is an area of expanding study and interest. Phenolic epoxies derived from lignin, an underutilized resource generated as waste by the pulp and paper industry, and furanyl-amine epoxy curing agents derived from cellulosic biomass, are already proven independently to yield thermosetting resins possessing adequate thermal and thermomechanical properties. In this work, the union of the aforementioned technologies is examined to determine the properties and characteristics of such highly bio-derived epoxy and amine thermosets. Resins with bio-derived carbon content greater than 97% are synthesized and characterized via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Lignin-derived epoxy resins are found to be compatible with a cellulose-derived furanyl diamine curing agent to produce thermosetting resins with good thermomechanical and thermogravimetric properties, rivaling the levels of properties exhibited by similar commercial petroleum-derived systems, indicating viability for replacing petroleum-based polymers in high-temperature applications.