The fully biobased epoxy resin with enhanced flame retardancy and mechanical property
摘要
The development of fully biobased epoxy resins as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based counterparts is of great significance for addressing resource depletion and environmental concerns. A fully biobased epoxy thermoset was synthesized from a magnolol-derived epoxy monomer (MG-EP) and a furfurylamine-based diamine curing agent (BDFA). The chemical structures were confirmed by FT-IR and ¹H NMR. The MG-EP system showed lower viscosity (0.475 Pa·s) than commercial DGEBA, indicating better processability. The cured biobased epoxy resin exhibited a storage modulus of 1.22 MPa at 30 °C, which was close to that of its petroleum-based counterpart. In addition, the cured biobased epoxy resin showed a tensile strength of 73.8 MPa–35.7% higher than that of DGEBA/BDFA. Moreover, it demonstrated enhanced char yield (44.9% vs. 21.6%) at 800 °C, and reduced heat release (PHRR 173.1 W/g vs. 216.6 W/g, THR 20.3 kJ/g vs. 26.1 kJ/g) compared to those of DGEBA/BDFA. As a result, MG-EP/BDFA achieved a V-1 UL-94 rating. This work presents a promising strategy for developing high-performance fully biobased epoxy resins with integrated mechanical strength and fire safety.