Bio-Based Epoxy-Phthalonitrile Resin: Preparation, Characterization, and Properties

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• Developing high-performance thermosetting resins from renewable resources is vital for global sustainability.
• Epoxy resins are versatile but often require enhanced thermal properties for demanding applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize a novel bio-based epoxy-phthalonitrile (EEPN) resin using eugenol.
• To investigate the thermal and mechanical properties of EEPN/Epoxide resin (E51) blends.
• To enhance the heat resistance of epoxy resins through molecular design.

Main Methods:

• Two-step synthesis of eugenol-based epoxy-phthalonitrile (EEPN) monomer.
• Preparation of EEPN/Epoxide resin (E51) blends with varying EEPN content.
• Characterization using FTIR, NMR, and elemental analysis.
• Thermal stability assessment via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).
• Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) for mechanical properties.

Main Results:

• EEPN monomer structure was confirmed through spectroscopic and elemental analysis.
• EEPN exhibited superior thermal stability with a char yield of 67.9 wt% at 800 °C, compared to 26.3 wt% for E51.
• Blended resins showed significantly improved heat resistance correlating with increased EEPN content.

Conclusions:

• The incorporation of cyanide groups into bio-based epoxy resins effectively enhances thermal stability.
• EEPN is a promising sustainable alternative for high-performance thermosetting applications requiring excellent heat resistance.
• The developed EEPN/E51 blends offer tunable thermal properties for advanced material design.