Curing kinetics and mechanical properties of bio-based epoxy composites comprising lignin-based epoxy resins

Abstract

Lignin-based epoxy resins derived from de-polymerized Kraft/organosolv lignins were blended with a conventional bisphenol A (BPA)-based epoxy resin at various percentages to prepare bio-based epoxy systems as polymer matrices for manufacturing of fiber-reinforced plastics (FRPs) and coatings. The curing process of epoxy composites was studied using DSC and the activation energy was calculated by isoconversional methods. Epoxy composites comprising a low percentage (25wt%) of lignin-based epoxy resin can be cured faster than the pure BPA-based epoxy resin used in particular at the early stage of curing. However, blending a large amount (>50wt%) of lignin-based epoxy resin with the BPA-based epoxy resin retarded the curing process particularly at the late stage of curing. Tensile and flexural strengths of the prepared FRPs using bio-based epoxy composites were found to be superior or comparable to those of the FRP with the pure BPA-based epoxy resin when the lignin-based epoxy resin blending ratio is less than 50–75wt%. Furthermore, the bio-based epoxy films comprising up to 50wt% of DOL-based epoxy resin were exhibited high adhesion strength on a metal substrate.