Bio-Based Thermosetting Resins: From Molecular Engineering to Intrinsically Multifunctional Customization.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• Growing interest in bio-based thermosetting resins driven by environmental concerns and sustainability goals.
• Renewable feedstock offers unique chemical structures for developing customized bio-based thermosets.
• Existing bio-based compounds possess inherent functionalities difficult to synthesize artificially.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advances in functional bio-based thermosets.
• To focus on molecular structures and design strategies for discovering functionalities.
• To highlight examples where inherent bio-based feedstock structures facilitate properties.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent advances in functional bio-based thermosets.
• Analysis of molecular structures and design strategies for property discovery.
• Case studies illustrating functionalities derived from bio-based feedstock.

Main Results:

• Significant progress in developing bio-based thermosets with antibacterial, antifouling, flame retardancy, carbon precursor, and stimuli-responsive properties.
• Demonstration of how inherent structures of bio-based feedstock enable specific functionalities.
• Expansion of application potential and future prospects for bio-based thermosets.

Conclusions:

• Bio-based thermosets offer a sustainable route to advanced materials with tailored functionalities.
• Molecular design and understanding feedstock structures are key to unlocking new properties.
• Further research perspectives are proposed for advancing the field of functional bio-based thermosets.