BIO-BASED CYANATE ESTER RESINS AND THERMOSTABLE POLYMER NETWORKS DERIVED THEREOF. MINI REVIEW

Abstract

This article is devoted to a review of the literature on a very promising direction in the chemistry of macromolecular compounds: the synthesis and study of polymers, more specifically, high performance polycyanurates based on bis(poly)phenols) of natural origin. Cyanate Ester Resins (CER) are characterized by a very regular structure of the polymer networks, namely polycyanurates (PCNs), obtained by their polycyclotrimerization. They have received much attention because of their unique combination of physical properties, including high thermal stability (> 400 °C), high glass transition temperature (> 270 °C), high fire-, radiation and chemical resistance, low water absorption and low outgassing, high adhesion to different substrates and excellent dielectric properties (ε=2,64−3,11). As a result, CER are currently used as structural or functional materials in aeronautics, space (composite strakes, fins, nose radomes, heat shields), printed circuit boards, adhesives etc. It has to be noted here that CER thermosetting resins, expanding the high-temperature operations regimes, are produced from synthetic petroleum-derived bisphenols, such as bisphenol A, which are toxic and dangerous for environment. In the past decade, naturally occurring phenolic derivatives have arisen as attractive precursors for developing new materials from renewable bio-sources for use in eco-friendly processes. Resins have been prepared utilizing either the whole liquid product or a phenolic-enriched fraction obtained after fractional condensation or further processing, such as solvent extraction or use of greener extraction methods. However, to date, none of the phenolic production and fractionation techniques has been utilized to allow for substitution of 100% of the phenol content of the resin without impacting its effectiveness compared to commercial formulations based on petroleum-derived phenol. The variable nature of the percentage of phenolic compounds in terms of purity from different batches of crops from one season to another and geographical influence does not allow from the reproducibility of phenolic compounds, and hence the resulting polymers. However, the direction that needs to be explored should be oriented towards complete replacement of petro-based phenolics with bio-based ones in the face of an urgent petroleum crisis. In addition, there is a necessity for materials showing enhanced applicability and improved performance. It is a beginning of the era of such a step, which requires further exploration of natural phenolic sources aimed at their enhanced utilization.