Recent advances in the development of green furan ring-containing polymeric materials based on renewable plant biomass

Fossil resources are rapidly depleting, forcing researchers in various fields of chemistry and materials science to switch to the use of renewable sources and the development of corresponding technologies. In this regard, the field of sustainable materials science is experiencing an extraordinary surge of interest in recent times due to the significant advances made in the development of new polymers with desired and controllable properties. This review summarizes important scientific reports in recent times dedicated to the synthesis, construction and computational studies of novel sustainable polymeric materials containing unchanged (pseudo)aromatic furan cores in their structure. Linear polymers for thermoplastics, branched polymers for thermosets and other crosslinked materials are emerging materials to highlight. Various polymer blends and composites based on sustainable polyfurans are also considered as pathways to achieve high-value-added products.

Hydroxymethylfurfural and its Derivatives: Potential Key Reactants in Adhesives

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a promising bio-derived platform chemical with a broad scope of application, for example, in the production of solvents, fuels, polymers, or adhesives. The wood and foundry industries are among the largest adhesive users and currently both rely to a large extent on the use of fossil-based binders, such as by using formaldehyde as a crosslinker in many commercial adhesive systems. The industry is thus looking for suitable alternatives to replace fossil-based chemicals. HMF and its derivatives are considered to be key renewable reactants in adhesive systems. The core of this Review is the critical evaluation of the potential of HMF and its derivatives in adhesive systems. The technological performance was assessed in the fields of wood-based materials, sand casting and composites. As an overall conclusion, HMF and its derivatives have a high application potential in alternative adhesives. Clearly, further research is needed to improve the performance and produce economically competitive adhesives.

Novel allyl and propenyl monomers for modification of the bismaleimide resins, with excellent dielectric properties and high glass transition temperatures

Two new monomers were prepared by the reaction of 2-allylphenol and 4,4′-biphenyldicarbonyl chloride under different reaction conditions. The monomers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The curing processes of N, N-4,4′-bismaleimidodiphenylmethyene with 4,4′-bis(2-allylphenyl) biphenyldicarbonylate (BABC) and 4,4′-bis(2-propenylphenyl benzoate) ether (BPBE) were studied by rheological analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Melting points of two monomers, BABC and BPBE, are 64°C and 121°C, respectively. The ABMI [4,4′-bis(2-allylphenyl)biphenyl bismaleimide] and PBMI [4,4′-bis(2-propenylphenyl)biphenyl bismaleimide] resins showed exothermic peaks at 233°C and 204°C, respectively. The measured melting points are significantly lower than that of the traditional bismaleimide resin which is modified by allyl bisphenol A. Dynamic mechanical analysis of the materials showed glass transition temperatures of ABMI and PBMI to be in the range of 213–258°C and 302–339°C, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis of the cured resins showed 5% weight loss for ABMI and PMBI at 437°C and 428°C, along with char residues of 35.6–39.5%, respectively, at 800°C under nitrogen atmosphere. Furthermore, dielectric constants of propenyl-modified resins were lower (2.46–3.10) with dissipation factors of 0.0034–0.0036, compared with those of allyl bisphenol A resins.