Preparation and Characterization of Fully Furan‐Based Renewable Thermosetting Epoxy‐Amine Systems

Abstract

Fully furan‐based epoxy/amine thermosetting materials are prepared and investigated using a furanyl epoxy monomer, 2,5‐bis[(2‐oxiranylmethoxy)methyl]‐furan (BOF), and two furanyl amine hardeners, 5,5′‐methylenedifurfurylamine (DFDA) and 5,5′‐ethylidenedifurfirylamine (CH 3 ‐DFDA). These furan‐based thermosets have shown promising glass transition temperatures (62 and 69 °C, respectively, using tan delta) and room temperature storage moduli (≈3.5 GPa). The BOF/CH 3 ‐DFDA sample is exhibited higher T g than the BOF/DFDA system due to the presence of an additional methyl group in CH 3 ‐DFDA. Used as curing agents for DGEBA, DFDA and CH 3 ‐DFDA have shown excellent performance with resulting T g s well above 120 °C. Onset degradation temperature of the fully furan‐based samples is observed around 270 °C with high char yields (≈40 wt%) at 750 °C in argon. Based on their thermal and mechanical properties, the renewable fully furan‐based thermosets are found suitable for coating, adhesive, and composite applications, and are therefore potential replacements for incumbent systems. image