Sustainable Development of High-performance Poly(ester-imine) Biobased Thermosets

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Green Chemistry

Background:

• Petroleum-based materials cause significant environmental pollution.
• There is a critical need for sustainable and eco-friendly material alternatives.
• Developing high-performance, bio-based polymers is essential for reducing environmental impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel, high-performance, eco-friendly poly(ester-imine) thermosets.
• To explore sustainable synthesis routes using bio-based precursors.
• To evaluate the thermo-mechanical, flame-retardant, and hydrophobic properties of the synthesized materials.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of epoxy monomers containing imine linkages from vanillin or syringaldehyde.
• Cross-linking of epoxy monomers with anhydrides without initiators.
• Characterization of thermo-mechanical properties (storage modulus, glass transition temperature).
• Assessment of flame retardancy using Limit Oxygen Index (LOI).
• Evaluation of water absorption (WA%) and density.

Main Results:

• Novel poly(ester-imine) thermosets were successfully synthesized using a sustainable, initiator-free approach.
• Materials exhibited high performance with storage moduli of 0.3–1.74 GPa and glass transition temperatures of 90–170 °C.
• Excellent flame-retardant properties were confirmed by LOI values of 24–36%.
• Low density (1.05–1.36 g cm⁻³) and very low water absorption (≈0.09–1.15%) were observed.

Conclusions:

• The developed poly(ester-imine) thermosets offer a promising sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based materials.
• Their high performance, flame retardancy, and hydrophobicity make them suitable for demanding applications.
• This research contributes to the advancement of green chemistry and sustainable materials development.