Design and synthesis of biobased epoxy thermosets from biorenewable resources

Abstract : Biobased diepoxy synthons derived from isoeugenol, eugenol or resorcinol (DGE-isoEu, DGE-Eu and DGER, respectively) have been used as epoxy monomers in replacement of the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA). Their curing with six different biobased anhydride hardeners leads to fully biobased epoxy thermosets. These materials exhibit interesting thermal and mechanical properties comparable to those obtained with conventional petrosourced DGEBA-based epoxy resins cured in similar conditions. In particular, a high Tg in the range of 90–130 °C and instantaneous moduli higher than 4.3 GPa have been recorded. These good performances are very encouraging, making these new fully biobased epoxy thermosets compatible with the usual structural application of epoxy materials.