Abstract:Biomass, a globally abundant and renewable feedstock with an annual natural production of ~170 billion metric tons, presents a promising avenue for sustainable chemical and polymer production. Converting biomass-derived platform molecules into high-value monomers offers a strategy to reduce reliance on fossil resources and advance a more sustainable plastics economy. This presentation explores the development of epoxy-amine polymer thermosets incorporating building blocks derived from phenolic acids, citric acid, and other biomass-based precursors. These bio-based thermosets exhibit robust mechanical and thermal properties while offering potential for degradability, addressing key challenges in both performance and end-of-life disposal.
