Phenol-Furfural Resin/Montmorillonite Based High-Pressure Green Composite from Renewable Feedstock (Saccharum munja) with Improved Thermo-Mechanical Properties

Abstract

This research endeavour aimed to explore the potential of a native, nonedible and low market value plant feedstock, i.e., Saccharum munja for green synthesis of woodware materials and improve its features by incorporating an economical blending material. A significant amount of furfural, i.e., 58%, was extracted from Saccharum munja through the modified acid digestion method. Extracted furfural was reacted with phenol to prepare phenol-furfural resin, an alternative to phenol-formaldehyde resin but with no harmful effects for humans. The synthesized resin was also blended with montmorillonite clay after modification via Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment for improved thermo-mechanical properties. These resins and composites were characterized by XRD, SEM, and FTIR spectroscopy. Resultant resins and composites were further employed as a binding agent to make high-pressure composite from leftover plant residue by hot-press method. The resultant product was subjected to TGA analysis and furnished high value of degradation temperature (Tdeg), i.e., 607 °C. Prepared high-pressure composite samples were mechanically tested through compression tests by Tinius Olsen Testing Machine and hardness tests by Rockwell Hardness Tester. Its tensile strength value was 58.3 MPa while hardness value was found to be 64 RHB which was greater than mild copper with hardness value 48.9 RHB. Thus, green high-pressure composite material was successfully developed by employing Saccharum munja and montmorillonite clay while no toxic resin was used, nor was any residue left over.

Phenol-Furfural Resin/Graphite/Ag Based Electrically Conductive Adhesive Composites from Waste Bagasse with Enhanced Thermo-Electric Properties

“…Such high degree polymerization has also assured that there is no unreacted furfural or phenol left in the resin, suggesting no need of any type of curing agents, resulting in the impartment of thermosetting behavior along with crosslinking properties. Similar results were reported by Zeeshan et al [24]. shows graphite flakes SEM micrograph which are smooth, homogenous and in thin plate shape [28].…”

“…While 1014 cm -1 band stretch reflects presence of C-H plane. =C-H out of plane bending vibration and C-H out of plane (monosubstituted) have exhibited stretching vibration at 929 cm -1 and 740 cm -1 respectively [24]. The resin was corroborated by absorption band at 3315 cm -1 due to -OH (Figure 2).…”

“…The structure of furfural was confirmed by the band at 3026 cm -1 in the FTIR spectrum which is due to the Ar-H stretch as shown in Figure 1. The aldehyde group was confirmed by the presences of two symmetric and asymmetric (H-C=O) bond stretch at 2846 cm -1 and 2807 cm -1 [24]. Intense band at 1664 cm -1 is due to C=O stretch.…”

“…Phenol furfural resin was prepared according to the method reported by Zeeshan et al [24]. Furfural and Phenol were reacted in molar ratio of 0.9:1.…”

Replacing Phenol and Formaldehyde for Green Adhesive Synthesis by Lignin and Furfural

“…Lignin is one of the three main constituents of lignocellulose biomass and becomes the most abundant natural aromatic natural polymer as a renewable feedstock for phenolic chemicals. − In recent years, lignin has been reported as a phenol alternative for the preparation of lignin-based phenol-formaldehyde (LPF), − though the mechanical properties of these LPF adhesives generally appeared to be inferior to those of the phenol-formaldehyde resin, which is due to the low reactivity of technical lignin. , Chemical modification of lignin, such as methylolation, phenolation, demethylation, and enzymatic hydrolysis can effectively improve the reactivity of lignin and enhance the mechanical property of the prepared LPF. The substitution rate of phenol is normally below 50%, and the cost of chemical modification procedure is high, significantly affecting the economic application of the LPF resin adhesive.…”