Composites that incorporate thermosetting resins are utilized in a wide-variety of applications and are derived primarily from petroleum.  Recent developments in bio-based resins include fatty acid vinyl esters and functionalized plant oils; however, these resins have reduced Tg's relative to commercial resins.  Additionally, these resins often incorporate petroleum-based reactive diluents in order to have viscosities amicable for molding operations and to increase overall performance.  Lignin is a copious waste product from the paper and pulping industry and has the potential to be a vital biorefinery feedstock that could yield valuable, macromolecular and low molecular weight aromatic chemicals when strategically depolymerized.  The incorporation of aromaticity in a resin's chemical structure is known to improve overall performance and the high aromatic content found in lignin would be ideal for novel resin development.  Functionalized lignin and lignin model compounds synthesized and employed as alternative bio-based monomers in liquid molding resins are presented.

Lignin-derived monomers utilized in biobased resins

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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