Polymer Thermosets from Multifunctional Polyester Resins Based on Renewable Monomers

The use of monomers based on natural materials as a future supply of raw materials has gained more interest in the last decade. Sources ranging from wood to plant oils and algae are exploited as alternatives to traditional fossil-based resources for the synthesis of polymeric materials. The use of these raw materials is not only of interest because of its abundance, but also in terms of price, durability, and/or biodegradability. In the present study, a series of resins utilizing a monomer derived from birch bark is prepared. The thermoset resins are formed by reacting an epoxy-functional omega-hydroxy fatty acid with methacrylate monomers using enzyme catalysis to form multifunctional resins via a one-pot synthesis. The derived oligomers are crosslinked through different polymerization routes to produce thermosets with different properties and/or functionalities. This approach allows natural-based resins with tuned functionalities and mechanical and thermal properties to be obtained.