Characterization of furanyl thermosetting polymers with superior mechanical properties and high-temperature char yield

Renewable alternatives to petroleum derived thermosetting polymers have elicited increasing interest due to potential positive economic and ecological impacts. New materials should mimic the rigid phenyl structures of high-performance commercial thermosetting resins. Furans derived from cellulose and hemicellulose are promising candidates for replacing phenyl incumbents, and a direct property comparison of thermosetting polymers prepared using furanyl and phenyl diepoxy monomers is warranted. In this work, thermosetting polymers were prepared using furanyl and phenyl diepoxy monomer analogs cured with a cycloaliphatic diamine hardener, 4, 4'-methylene biscyclohexanamine. The structure-property study shows that furanyl-based polymers possess superior mechanical properties and high-temperature char yield compared with their phenyl analogs. An epoxy-amine cure kinetics study highlights differences in cure behavior that could be responsible for the superior mechanical characteristics of furanyl-based polymers.