Thermosetting resins with bio-based furanyl building blocks

             Fengshuo Hu, Ph.D. Candidate


Most thermosetting resins are produced from petroleum feedstocks. Recently, the high price of fossil fuels and the demand to protect the health and environment has increased the interest in manufacturing polymeric materials from renewable materials. Among these, furan-based epoxy resins have become the materials of interest. The aim of this project is to synthesize furan-based epoxy resins with improved mechanical and thermal properties. Furan-based resins are thermosetting condensation resins produced from pentose sugars, furfuryl alcohol and their prepolymers. In this study, furan-based epoxy resins are synthesized from different routes and characterized by multiple techniques, such as FT-IR, NMR, GPC, DSC and DMA. Upon the success of preparing furan-based epoxy resins with improved mechanical and thermal properties compared with their petroleum-based competitors, selected resins will be used in fabricating natural fiber-reinforced composites for industrial applications.




             Relevant Publications

Hu, F.; La Scala, J. J.; Sadler, M. J.; Palmese, G. R. Synthesis and Characterization of Thermosetting Furan-Based Epoxy Systems. Macromolecules 2014, 47 (10), 3332-42.

Hu, F.; La Scala, J. J.; Sadler, M. J.; Palmese, G. R. Synthesis and Characterization of Thermosetting Furan-Based Epoxy Materials with Improved Thermomechanical Properties. 2014 TRFA Excellence in Thermoset Polymer Research Paper Award.



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