A high-performance renewable thermosetting resin derived from eugenol.

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• Traditional bisphenols raise environmental and health concerns.
• There is a growing need for high-performance resins derived from renewable resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize a renewable bisphenol and its corresponding cyanate ester.
• To evaluate the thermal and water resistance properties of the resulting thermoset.

Main Methods:

• Solvent-free, ruthenium-catalyzed olefin metathesis of eugenol.
• Hydrogenation, purification, and conversion to a bis(cyanate) ester.
• Characterization using NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction.

Main Results:

• The synthesized bisphenol and cyanate ester were rigorously characterized.
• The cured cyanate ester exhibited thermal stability >350°C and a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 186°C.
• The thermoset showed low water uptake (1.8%) and maintained a high wet Tg (167°C).

Conclusions:

• The renewable cyanate ester resin offers excellent thermal stability and moisture resistance.
• The material's properties make it suitable for maritime applications.
• Sustainable feedstocks can yield high-performance thermosetting resins.