Naturally occurring phenolic compounds are a diverse class of molecules that offer structural motifs not commonly found in petroleum-derived monomer precursors. Synthetic biology affords the opportunity to produce these molecules from biomass sugars using metabolically engineered microorganisms. The ability to produce these compounds, on relevant scales, from cheap and abundant starting materials, allows the unique structural characteristics of bio-based phenols to be utilized for thermosetting resins with enhanced properties. Key improvements obtained through this approach include higher Tg, higher char yield, enhanced thermal stability, lower water uptake, and the ability to cross-link at low temperature through dual cure mechanisms. This presentation will discuss recent work on both cyanate ester and epoxy resins derived from various resveratrol isomers, and structurally similar trifunctional phenols. In addition, the synthesis of new cyanate ester resins from eugenol and cardanol will be described. These latter materials can cross-link through synergistic dual cure mechanisms that take advantage of unsaturated substituents on the aromatic rings. Finally, we will describe recent advancements in the use of biosynthetic amines as non-stoichiometric hardeners and polymerization catalysts for epoxy resins.

High temperature composite materials derived from biosynthetic phenols

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.