Synthesis of Sustainable Thermosetting Resins: High Performance and Functionalization

The contradiction between the extensive usage of traditional thermosetting resin and the depletion of petrochemical resources as well as environmental pollution and deterioration has attracted more and more attention, which makes the sustainable development of high-performance thermosets face severe challenges. Taking renewable resources as feedstocks to replace traditional petrochemical products for the synthesis of bio-based thermosetting resin is one of the feasible and significant methods to achieve its green production. Besides, how to endow the bio-based thermosets with satisfied service performance and multi-functionality under different applicated environment as well as high-efficient and high-quality recyclability are also important research topics for increasing sustainability. As early as ten years ago, our team started to design and synthesize sustainable thermosetting resin, of which the high-performance and functionality were successfully realized. Aiming to further achieve the sustainable development of thermosets in the total lifecycle, we dedicated our research focus to the comprehensive improvement of the resins including renewable material selection, green manufacturing process, versatile application, and high value-added recycling. Based on our experiences, this feature article reviewed our work on the selection of bio-based platform compounds, integrative design of resin with high-performance and multi-functionality, and high value-added recycling. In the end, the prospect and future of sustainable thermosetting resins were forecasted. [GRAPHICS] .