SusChEM: Exploring Physical Properties of Epoxy Resins Containing Multifunctional Biobased Components

非技术概述：目前，大多数聚合物来源于石油原料。开发可持续的聚合物替代资源是一项开放的社会挑战。环氧树脂是一种重要的商业类别的聚合物，用于多种应用，例如结构应用、高级粘合剂、航空航天和汽车部件以及风力涡轮机叶片。环氧树脂主要来源于石油化工产品。此外，这些聚合物在材料的使用寿命之后不能再循环。未回收的塑料废物存在于垃圾填埋场，有时在水道等无意的位置。该项目将开发新的环氧树脂，通过实施可持续来源和提高材料的生物降解性来减少对环境的影响。两种植物性资源将被检查：植物油和酚酸（在许多水果和蔬菜副产品中发现）。将开发用于制备这些材料的化学路线，并将研究它们的物理性能。该项目还将通过以下活动培养学生、教育工作者和公众关于聚合物对环境影响的知识：扩大UH当地K-12学生的材料日计划，开发休斯顿能源日和休斯顿地球日庆祝活动的模块，以及研究生和本科生参与研究活动。技术摘要：该项目的目标是开发新的环氧树脂，其中包含可持续的，可生物降解的，无毒的成分，但保持传统的，石油来源的材料的优点。研究计划围绕三个具体目标展开。在第一个目标中，将为含有生物基组分的环氧树脂建立合成策略。将采用植物来源的酚酸赋予环氧树脂所需的机械性能（由于存在芳环），并将采用大豆油赋予环氧树脂生物降解性（由于存在酯键）。在第二个目标中，将详细了解可持续环氧树脂的结构-性能-功能关系。预计起始组分的功能性对环氧网络的结构参数和最终宏观机械性能具有很大影响。多组分环氧树脂的设计将被用来开发具有有利性能的微相分离热固性共混物。第三个目标是研究含大豆油环氧树脂的水解降解和生物降解。所提出的工作的一个关键前提是，来自大豆油的环氧树脂将保持其性能，在使用它们的产品的使用寿命，但可以在堆肥环境中进行生物降解。本研究的预期成果是从非传统来源的环氧树脂的合成途径，表征新衍生的环氧树脂的热和机械行为，微相分离的多组分环氧树脂的形态学研究，以及含有酯键的环氧树脂的水解和生物降解机制。

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:Presently, the majority of polymers are derived from petroleum feedstocks. The development of sustainable, alternative resources for polymers is an open societal challenge. Epoxy resins are an important commercial class of polymer used in a variety of applications such as structural applications, advanced adhesives, aerospace and automotive components, and wind turbine blades. Epoxy resins are derived predominantly from petrochemicals. Additionally, these polymers cannot be recycled after the useful lifetime of the material. Plastic waste which is not recycled resides in landfills, and sometimes in unintentional locations such as waterways. This project will develop new epoxy resins with a reduced environmental impact through implementation of sustainable sources and enhancing the biodegradability of the materials. Two plant-based resources will be examined: vegetable oils and phenolic acids (found in many fruit and vegetable byproducts). Chemical routes will be developed for preparation of these materials, and their physical performance will be investigated. This project will also cultivate knowledge in students, educators and the general public on the impact of polymers on the environment, through the following activities: expansion of the Materials Day at UH program for local K-12 students, development of modules for the Houston Energy Day and Houston Earth Day celebrations, and participation of graduate and undergraduate students in research activities.TECHNICAL SUMMARY:The objective of this project is to develop new epoxy resins which contain sustainable, biodegradable, and non-toxic components, yet maintain the advantageous properties of conventional, petroleum-sourced materials. The research plan is structured around three specific aims. In the first aim, synthetic strategies will be established for epoxy resins containing biobased components. Plant-sourced phenolic acids will be employed to impart desirable mechanical behavior to the epoxy resins (due to the presence of aromatic rings) and soybean oil will be employed to impart biodegradability to the epoxy resins (due to the presence of ester linkages). In the second aim, a detailed understanding of structure-property-function relationships in sustainable epoxy resins will be developed. The functionality of the starting components is expected to have a great impact on the structural parameters of the epoxy network and ultimate macroscopic mechanical properties. The design of multicomponent epoxy resins will be leveraged to develop microphase separated thermoset blends with advantageous properties. In the third aim, hydrolytic degradation and biodegradation of epoxy resins containing soybean oil will be investigated. A key premise of the proposed work is that epoxy resins derived from soybean oil will maintain their properties during the useful lifetime of the products they are utilized in, yet can undergo biodegradation in a compost environment. The expected outcomes from this study are synthetic pathways to epoxy resins from non-traditional sources, characterization of the thermal and mechanical behavior of the newly derived epoxy resins, morphological investigation of microphase separated multicomponent epoxy resins, and hydrolytic and biodegradation mechanisms of epoxy resins which contain ester linkages.