High glass transitions, high storage moduli, high thermal stability, and low water absorption values are crucial criteria of high-performant materials, though there is a challenge when we are confronting the bio-resourced materials with their performances. This work proposes the chemical combination of aromatic bio-based epoxy monomers with potential bio-based anhydrides to produce thermosetting materials with competitive performances. Triglycidyl ether of phloroglucinol (TGPh) and diglycidyl ether of vanillyl alcohol (DGEVA) were copolymerized with hexahydro-4-methylphthalic anhydride or methyl nadic anhydride. These copolymerization reactions start at low temperature, from 35 or 70 °C; that is a first advantage for an industrial up-scaling. The produced thermosets have high bio-based carbon content, ∼50–60%, high glass transition values (>100 °C for DGEVA-based resins and >200 °C for TGPh resins), high storage moduli (2.7–3.1 GPa at 30 °C), high thermal stability (T 5% = 329–359 °C), and very low water absorption (in average ∼1.5% after 15 days). These performances of these bio-based thermosets open windows of application in space, aerospace, or naval industry.

There is an imperative need to find sustainable ways to produce bisphenol A free, high performance thermosets for specific applications such as the space or aerospace areas. In this study, an aromatic tris epoxide, the tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane triglycidyl ether (THPMTGE), was selected to generate high crosslinked networks by its copolymerization with anhydrides. Indeed, the prepared thermosets show a gel content (GC) ~99.9% and glass transition values ranged between 167–196 °C. The thermo-mechanical properties examined by DMA analyses reveal the development of very hard materials with E′ ~3–3.5 GPa. The thermosets’ rigidity was confirmed by Young’s moduli values which ranged between 1.25–1.31 GPa, an elongation at break of about 4–5%, and a tensile stress of ~35–45 MPa. The TGA analyses highlight a very good thermal stability, superior to 340 °C. The Limit Oxygen Index (LOI) parameter was also evaluated, showing the development of new materials with good flame retardancy properties.

Renewable flavonoids and phlorotannins extracts were used as building blocks to synthesize biobased tris-epoxy monomers and further to design and develop sustainable thermosetting resins. The triglycidyl ethers of phloroglucinol and...

Due to the global environmental concerns caused by the ever-increasing environmental impact, landfill materials, and CO2 emission, there is a critical need in the elaboration of sustainable composite materials. Advanced material composites used in the production of high-performance products to solve some of the most difficult engineering challenges are having a key role in decarbonization by their light weight, higher performance, and increasing durability. In this work, sustainable carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRCs) have been engineered with an environmentally friendly epoxy resin derived from natural and renewable compounds employing an industrial feasible manufacturing protocol. The thermosetting resin with a biobased organic carbon content (BOC) of ∼77% was synthesized by combining a renewable based monomer, the triglycidyl ether of phloroglucinol (TGPh), with hexahydro-4-methylphthalic anhydride (HMPA). The developed CFRCs show high performance with high glass transitions T g > 350 °C, a high storage modulus ∼42 GPa, a high interlaminar shear strength ∼63 MPa, and a compressive strength ∼400 MPa. In addition, the outgassing tests show that both the resin and the CFRCs are compliant for space application. Moreover, the biobased CFRCs exhibit chemical recyclability, reprocessability, and excellent intrinsic flame resistance.

This study focuses on the development of environmentally friendly and chemically recyclable thermosets using or a renewable based monomer, the triglycidyl ether of phloroglucinol (TGPh), or a commercial non-toxic tris(4-hydroxyphenyl) methane triglycidyl ether (THPMTGE) monomer. The recyclable polyester thermosets were prepared by crosslinking the two monomers with hexahydro-4-methylphthalic anhydride (HMPA) or methyl nadic anhydride The TGPh-based formulations exhibited lower reaction temperatures and narrower reaction intervals. Additionally, these systems showed higher tan δ values (189°C–199°C), higher crosslinking densities (7.6–7.8 mmol cm−3) and compact networks, crucial for high-performance industries. Tensile tests demonstrated the remarkable mechanical properties of the thermosets, including high Young modulus (1.3–1.4 GPa), tensile stress (55–69 MPa), and an elongation at break around 3%–8%. Moreover, the thermosets exhibited complete dissolution at a temperature of 170°C, with depolymerization times of approximately 2.5 h for TGPh-based resins and 4.5 h for THPMTGE-based formulations. In conclusion, this study shows that sustainable and eco-friendly thermosets with excellent physico-chemical and thermo-mechanical properties, low hydrophilicity, and rapid dissolution capacity can be developed. These thermosets offer a viable alternative to non-recyclable and toxic resins in high-end industrial applications.