A novel bio‐based phthalonitrile resin derived from catechin: synthesis and comparison of curing behavior with petroleum‐based counterpart. Issue 3 (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qi, Yu; Weng, Zhihuan; Wang, Jinyan; Zhang, Shouhai; Zong, Lishuai; Liu, Cheng; Jian, Xigao
• Is Part Of: Polymer international. Volume 67:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: 322
• Page End: 329
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: bio‐based -- phthalonitrile resin -- self‐curing -- catechin -- thermosetting; Plastics -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1002/pi.5507
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-8103

Abstract

Abstract: The development of bio‐based thermosetting resins with good thermal stability can potentially afford sustainable polymers as replacements for petroleum‐based polymers. We report a practical route to a novel catechin‐based phthalonitrile resin precursor (CA‐Ph), which contains free phenolic hydroxyl groups that result in 'self‐curing' at elevated temperatures to afford a thermostable polymer. Comparison of the performance of this CA‐Ph resin with that of a conventional petroleum‐based bisphenol A phthalonitrile resin (BPA‐Ph; containing 5 wt% of the curing agent 4, 4′‐diaminodiphenylsulfone) revealed that CA‐Ph exhibits a lower melting point and curing temperature. Cured CA‐Ph resin retains 95% of its weight at 520 °C under a nitrogen atmosphere, which compares favorably with results obtained for BPA‐Ph resin that retains 95% of its weight at a lower temperature of 484 °C. Kinetic results indicated that the curing reactions of both CA‐Ph and BPA‐Ph systems follow an autocatalytic mechanism. These results suggest that catechin is a useful bio‐based feedstock for the preparation of self‐curing and thermally stable phthalonitrile resins for advanced technological applications. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry Abstract : A self‐curing phthalonitrile resin derived from bio‐based catechin was designed, and the resulting resin shows thermal stability superior to that of a petroleum‐based counterpart derived from bisphenol A.