From biorefinery by-product to bioresins. thermosets based on humins and epoxidized linseed oil

Abstract

Resource depletion is one of the hardest challenges facing humanity today. Reuse, repurposing and waste management are valid strategies in order to relieve some of the pressure on natural resources. For the first time, in this work, we propose to study the properties of bioresins synthesized by the combination of a lignocellulosic based by-product, humins (Hu), and a vegetable resourced comonomer, epoxidized linseed oil (ELO). The copolymerization of these two bio-based products was conducted with the help of a common hardener, Capcure. The synthesized bioresins display a range of mechanical properties, from elastomers to rigid thermosets, showing their ability for industrial applications.