Creation of biomimetic composites using matrix resins derived from wood biomass

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Wood-based thermoset epoxy resins were newly synthesized from resorcinol-liquefied wood as a resin precursor. Firstly, wood meal was liquefied by the reaction with resorcinol in a pressure-proof tube. The black paste in the tube was considered as a precursor for synthesizing the epoxy resin, because the reacted compound would include considerable amount of hydroxyl groups as reactive sites originated from the wood and the solvents. Next, the glycidyl etherification for the phenolic-OH groups was conducted and the wood-based epoxy resins were synthesized. The epoxy functionality of the resins would therefore reflect the concentration of phenolic-OH groups of the liquefied-wood. The modulus of elasticity and the flexural strength of the wood-based cured epoxy resins were equivalent to those of commercial-based bisphenol-A type epoxy resin. Also, the viscosity of the wood-based liquid epoxy resins was low enough to impregnate among reinforcing fibers. Therefore, new green composites from the renewable biomass resources, composed of the wood-based epoxy matrix resins and flax fibers, were successfully fabricated. The wood-based epoxy resins had good adhesive property to the surface of flax fibers, which indicates the high potential as matrix resins for green composites. The stiffness of the flax fiber reinforced wood-based epoxy composites were equivalent to those of the same fiber reinforced commercial-based epoxy composites.