High-performance and recyclable epoxy resins based on fully bio-based hardeners containing Schiff base structures

The development of recyclable bio-based epoxy resins has been the focus of research nowadays, particularly in light of increasing environmental concerns and the drive for resource recycling. Herein, two fully bio-based epoxy curing agents, VLYS (fully bio-based Schiff basic epoxy curing agent based...

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Main Authors: Ruize Zhang, Jiaqi Zhong, Gaosheng Wu, Kaidi Xu, Xiaoli Xu, Xuliang Cui, Baoyun Xu, Xiaolei li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Royal Society 2025-07-01
Series:Royal Society Open Science
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Online Access:https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.250109
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author Ruize Zhang
Jiaqi Zhong
Gaosheng Wu
Kaidi Xu
Xiaoli Xu
Xuliang Cui
Baoyun Xu
Xiaolei li
author_facet Ruize Zhang
Jiaqi Zhong
Gaosheng Wu
Kaidi Xu
Xiaoli Xu
Xuliang Cui
Baoyun Xu
Xiaolei li
author_sort Ruize Zhang
collection DOAJ
description The development of recyclable bio-based epoxy resins has been the focus of research nowadays, particularly in light of increasing environmental concerns and the drive for resource recycling. Herein, two fully bio-based epoxy curing agents, VLYS (fully bio-based Schiff basic epoxy curing agent based on vanillin and lysine) and VLEV (fully bio-based Schiff basic epoxy curing agent based on vanillin and levodopa), were synthesized by reacting amino acids—lysine and levodopa, respectively—with vanillin. Both epoxy resins cured by these two hardeners, VLYS-E and VLEV-E, show high glass transition temperatures (Tg > 141°C) and superior mechanical properties (Young’s modulus >1000 MPa and flexural modulus >2900 MPa), which are far better than the resin system based on a petroleum-based curing agent. The incorporation of the Schiff base endows these resins with degradability and reprocessability, while exhibiting high-percentage retention of thermal and mechanical properties after two cycles. Taken together, these findings suggest that these fully bio-based curing agents hold significant potential to supplant conventional hardeners.
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id doaj-art-c6d96a1ef1a248c0ba36ccda67d1ea36
institution DOAJ
issn 2054-5703
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher The Royal Society
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series Royal Society Open Science
spelling doaj-art-c6d96a1ef1a248c0ba36ccda67d1ea362025-08-20T02:48:00ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032025-07-0112710.1098/rsos.250109High-performance and recyclable epoxy resins based on fully bio-based hardeners containing Schiff base structuresRuize Zhang0Jiaqi Zhong1Gaosheng Wu2Kaidi Xu3Xiaoli Xu4Xuliang Cui5Baoyun Xu6Xiaolei li7Shanghai Research Institute of Chemical Industry, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaShanghai Research Institute of Chemical Industry, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaShanghai Research Institute of Chemical Industry, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaShanghai Research Institute of Chemical Industry, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaShanghai Research Institute of Chemical Industry, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaShanghai Research Institute of Chemical Industry, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaShanghai Research Institute of Chemical Industry, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaShanghai Research Institute of Chemical Industry, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaThe development of recyclable bio-based epoxy resins has been the focus of research nowadays, particularly in light of increasing environmental concerns and the drive for resource recycling. Herein, two fully bio-based epoxy curing agents, VLYS (fully bio-based Schiff basic epoxy curing agent based on vanillin and lysine) and VLEV (fully bio-based Schiff basic epoxy curing agent based on vanillin and levodopa), were synthesized by reacting amino acids—lysine and levodopa, respectively—with vanillin. Both epoxy resins cured by these two hardeners, VLYS-E and VLEV-E, show high glass transition temperatures (Tg > 141°C) and superior mechanical properties (Young’s modulus >1000 MPa and flexural modulus >2900 MPa), which are far better than the resin system based on a petroleum-based curing agent. The incorporation of the Schiff base endows these resins with degradability and reprocessability, while exhibiting high-percentage retention of thermal and mechanical properties after two cycles. Taken together, these findings suggest that these fully bio-based curing agents hold significant potential to supplant conventional hardeners.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.250109epoxy curing agentfully bio-baseddegradableSchiff basevanillinamino acid
spellingShingle Ruize Zhang
Jiaqi Zhong
Gaosheng Wu
Kaidi Xu
Xiaoli Xu
Xuliang Cui
Baoyun Xu
Xiaolei li
High-performance and recyclable epoxy resins based on fully bio-based hardeners containing Schiff base structures
Royal Society Open Science
epoxy curing agent
fully bio-based
degradable
Schiff base
vanillin
amino acid
title High-performance and recyclable epoxy resins based on fully bio-based hardeners containing Schiff base structures
title_full High-performance and recyclable epoxy resins based on fully bio-based hardeners containing Schiff base structures
title_fullStr High-performance and recyclable epoxy resins based on fully bio-based hardeners containing Schiff base structures
title_full_unstemmed High-performance and recyclable epoxy resins based on fully bio-based hardeners containing Schiff base structures
title_short High-performance and recyclable epoxy resins based on fully bio-based hardeners containing Schiff base structures
title_sort high performance and recyclable epoxy resins based on fully bio based hardeners containing schiff base structures
topic epoxy curing agent
fully bio-based
degradable
Schiff base
vanillin
amino acid
url https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.250109
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AT gaoshengwu highperformanceandrecyclableepoxyresinsbasedonfullybiobasedhardenerscontainingschiffbasestructures
AT kaidixu highperformanceandrecyclableepoxyresinsbasedonfullybiobasedhardenerscontainingschiffbasestructures
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AT baoyunxu highperformanceandrecyclableepoxyresinsbasedonfullybiobasedhardenerscontainingschiffbasestructures
AT xiaoleili highperformanceandrecyclableepoxyresinsbasedonfullybiobasedhardenerscontainingschiffbasestructures