A facile conversion of a bio-based resveratrol to the high-performance polymer with high Tg and high char yield

Abstract

The bio-based resveratrol was facilely converted to a functional monomer containing cross-linkable propargyl ether via only a one-step reaction. After being treated at a temperature of more than 160 °C, the monomer changed to a cross-linked network that exhibited the 5% weight loss temperature (T5d) of 420 °C and a char yield of near 70% at 1000 °C and a glass transition temperature (Tg) of up to 365 °C. Moreover, the cured monomer also displayed a low thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) of 42.3 ppm °C −1 in a range of 30–300 °C. These results indicate that the bio-based polymer possesses higher heat-resistance than most of commercial phenolic resins and epoxy resins, as well as than the previously reported dipropargyl ether of bisphenol A and multi-propargyl ethers of triazine derivatives and novolac resins. Thus, this biobased polymer could be considered as an alternative for the petrochemical-based high-performance polymers. Based on rare research on the conversion of resveratrol to materials, this contribution provides a convenient transformation way for this compound.