Synthesis, Characterization of a Rosin-based Epoxy Monomer and its Comparison with a Petroleum-based Counterpart

A Comparative Study on the Properties of Rosin-Based Epoxy Resins with Different Flexible Chains

This study aims to reveal the effects of flexible chain lengths on rosin-based epoxy resin's properties. Two rosin-based epoxy monomers with varying chain lengths were synthesized: AR-EGDE (derived from ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether-modified acrylic acid rosin) and ARE (derived from acrylic acid rosin and epichlorohydrin). Diethylenetriamine (DETA), triethylenetetramine (TETA), and tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) with different flexible chain lengths were used as curing agents. The adhesion, impact, pencil hardness, flexibility, water and heat resistance, and weatherability of the epoxy resins were systematically examined. It was found that when the flexible chains of rosin-based epoxy monomers were grown from ARE to AR-EGDE, due to the increased space of rosin-based fused rings, the toughness, adhesion, and water resistance of the rosin-based epoxy resins were enhanced, while the pencil hardness and heat resistance decreased. However, when the flexible chains of curing agents were lengthened, the resin's performance did not change significantly because the space between the fused rings changed little. This indicates that the properties of the rosin-based resins can only be altered when the introduced flexible chain increases the space between the fused rings. The study also compared rosin-based resins to E20, a commercial petroleum-based epoxy of the bisphenol A type. The rosin-based resins demonstrated superior adhesion, water resistance, and weatherability compared to the E20 resins, indicating the remarkable durability of the rosin-based resin.

Chiral Quaternary Ammoniums Derived from Dehydroabietylamine: Synthesis and Application to Alkynylation of Isatin Derivatives Catalyzed by Silver

Abietic acid and its derivatives have broadly been used in fine chemicals and are renewable resources. Its inherent chiral rigid tricyclic phenanthrene skeleton is unique. Its utilities in asymmetric catalysis remain to be explored. A series new amide-type chiral quaternary ammoniums bearing dehydroabietylamine were designed, and prepared by two convenient steps. Acylation of dehydroabietylamine with bromoacetyl chloride afforded amide holding bromoacetyl group in higher yields using triethyl amine as base. Subsequent quaternization reaction gave the desired amide-type chiral quaternary ammoniums. The new chiral quaternary ammoniums can be used as phase-transfer catalyst (PTC) for the transition metal-catalysed alkynylation of isatin derivatives.

Composition and Properties of Protective Coatings Made of Biologically-Derived Polyester Reactive Binder

Biologically derived polymers are a very attractive subject for investigation, due to the strict pro-ecological requirements imposed by developed countries, including zero-waste and zero-carbon policies as well as volatile organic compound (VOC) limits. Synthesis of biologically-derived polyesters from natural rosin and bio-diols, showing softening temperatures suitable for application in VOC-free paints and varnishes, was performed to create a desired, future commercial product, that meet the aforementioned requirements regarding VOC and elimination of petroleum-based raw materials. Prepared polymers were used in the formulation of coating materials whose properties: cross-linking behavior, glass transition temperature, thermal stability, storage modulus, hardness, cupping resistance, adhesion, chemical resistance, gloss, haze, color, and anti-corrosive behavior in the salt chamber were investigated and discussed. As a result, coatings with prepared bio-polyesters contained over 80 wt.% of natural resources and showed competitive/better properties than petroleum-based references. They can be applied in the prototyping of “green” powder paints for the protection of steel substrates from corrosion and aggressive solvents.

Advances in Rosin-Based Chemicals: The Latest Recipes, Applications and Future Trends

A comprehensive review of the publications about rosin-based chemicals has been compiled. Rosin, or colophony, is a natural, abundant, cheap and non-toxic raw material which can be easily modified to obtain numerous useful products, which makes it an excellent subject of innovative research, attracting growing interest in recent years. The last extensive review in this research area was published in 2008, so the current article contains the most promising, repeatable achievements in synthesis of rosin-derived chemicals, published in scientific literature from 2008 to 2018. The first part of the review includes low/medium molecule weight compounds: Especially intermediates, resins, monomers, curing agents, surfactants, medications and biocides. The second part is about macromolecules: mainly elastomers, polymers for biomedical applications, coatings, adhesives, surfactants, sorbents, organosilicons and polysaccharides. In conclusion, a critical evaluation of the publications in terms of data completeness has been carried out with an indication of the most promising directions of rosin-based chemicals development.

A Review of Recent Research on Bio-Based Epoxy Systems for Engineering Applications and Potentialities in the Aviation Sector

Epoxy resins are one of the most widely used thermosets in different engineering fields, due to their chemical resistance and thermo-mechanical properties. Recently, bio-based thermoset resin systems have attracted significant attention given their environmental benefits related to the wide variety of available natural resources, as well as the resulting reduction in the use of petroleum feedstocks. During the last two decades, considerable improvement on the properties of bio-sourced resins has been achieved to obtain performances comparable to petroleum-based systems. This paper reviews recent advances on new bio-based epoxy resins, derived from natural oils, natural polyphenols, saccharides, natural rubber and rosin. Particular focus has been given to novel chemical formulations and resulting mechanical properties of natural derived- epoxies, curing agents or entire systems, constituting an interesting alternative for a large variety of engineering applications, including the aviation sector. The present work is within the scope of the ECO-COMPASS project, where new bio-sourced epoxy matrixes for green composites are under investigation.

Synthesis and properties of a bio-based epoxy resin from 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA)

Based on the properties comparison between FDCA-based epoxy and TPA-based epoxy, FDCA has been regarded as an ideal renewable platform chemical for the synthesis of thermosetting resins with high performance.