Cleavable bio-based epoxy resin systems are emerging, eco-friendly, and promising alternatives to the common thermoset ones, providing quite comparable thermo-mechanical properties while enabling a circular and green end-of-life scenario of the composite materials. In addition to being designed to incorporate a bio-based resin greener than the conventional fully fossil-based epoxies, these formulations involve cleaving hardeners that enable, under mild thermo-chemical conditions, the total recycling of the composite material through the recovery of the fiber and matrix as a thermoplastic. This research addressed the characterization, processability, and recyclability of a new commercial cleavable bio-resin formulation (designed by the R-Concept company) that can be used in the fabrication of fully recyclable polymer composites. The resin was first studied to investigate the influence of the different post-curing regimes (room temperature, 100 °C, and 140 °C) on its thermal stability and glass transition temperature. According to the results obtained, the non-post-cured resin displayed the highest Tg (i.e., 76.6 °C). The same post-curing treatments were also probed on the composite laminates (glass and carbon) produced via a lab-scale vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding system, evaluating flexural behavior, microstructure, and dynamic-mechanical characteristics. The post-curing at 100 °C would enhance the crosslinking of polymer chains, improving the mechanical strength of composites. With respect to the non-post-cured laminates, the flexural strength improved by 3% and 12% in carbon and glass-based composites, respectively. The post-curing at 140 °C was instead detrimental to the mechanical performance. Finally, on the laminates produced, a chemical recycling procedure was implemented, demonstrating the feasibility of recovering both thermoplastic-based resin and fibers.

Cleavable bio-based epoxy matrix for more eco-sustainable thermoset composite components / Rossitti, I.; Bolis, A.; Sambucci, M.; Sarasini, F.; Tirillo', J.; Valente, M.. - In: POLYMERS. - ISSN 2073-4360. - 17:1(2025), pp. -1. [10.3390/polym17010088]

Cleavable bio-based epoxy matrix for more eco-sustainable thermoset composite components

Rossitti I.;Sambucci M.;Sarasini F.;Tirillo' J.;Valente M.
2025

Abstract

Cleavable bio-based epoxy resin systems are emerging, eco-friendly, and promising alternatives to the common thermoset ones, providing quite comparable thermo-mechanical properties while enabling a circular and green end-of-life scenario of the composite materials. In addition to being designed to incorporate a bio-based resin greener than the conventional fully fossil-based epoxies, these formulations involve cleaving hardeners that enable, under mild thermo-chemical conditions, the total recycling of the composite material through the recovery of the fiber and matrix as a thermoplastic. This research addressed the characterization, processability, and recyclability of a new commercial cleavable bio-resin formulation (designed by the R-Concept company) that can be used in the fabrication of fully recyclable polymer composites. The resin was first studied to investigate the influence of the different post-curing regimes (room temperature, 100 °C, and 140 °C) on its thermal stability and glass transition temperature. According to the results obtained, the non-post-cured resin displayed the highest Tg (i.e., 76.6 °C). The same post-curing treatments were also probed on the composite laminates (glass and carbon) produced via a lab-scale vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding system, evaluating flexural behavior, microstructure, and dynamic-mechanical characteristics. The post-curing at 100 °C would enhance the crosslinking of polymer chains, improving the mechanical strength of composites. With respect to the non-post-cured laminates, the flexural strength improved by 3% and 12% in carbon and glass-based composites, respectively. The post-curing at 140 °C was instead detrimental to the mechanical performance. Finally, on the laminates produced, a chemical recycling procedure was implemented, demonstrating the feasibility of recovering both thermoplastic-based resin and fibers.
2025
bio-based thermoset; composite laminates; ecofriendly epoxy system; ecological recycling of thermoset; fibers recovery
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Cleavable bio-based epoxy matrix for more eco-sustainable thermoset composite components / Rossitti, I.; Bolis, A.; Sambucci, M.; Sarasini, F.; Tirillo', J.; Valente, M.. - In: POLYMERS. - ISSN 2073-4360. - 17:1(2025), pp. -1. [10.3390/polym17010088]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1732333
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