Youngblood, Jeffrey P., Clark, Andrew J., Coles, Stuart R. and Sellars, Andrew B. (2015) Replacing styrene with bioderived alternatives in polyesters. Green Materials, 3 (January – March). pp. 35-42. doi:10.1680/gmat.14.00020

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Abstract

Composites offer high strength and stiffness at a lower density compared to other structural materials, therefore are of growing use to a variety of lightweight structures in order to reduce emissions and improve performance. However, traditional composites have the highest embodied carbon content of all engineering materials with limited methods of recycling. Therefore moving composites to a biobased sourcing can have a large impact in the eco-footprint of these materials. 2-Methoxy-4-vinylphenol has previously been shown to be sustainably biosourced from microbial degradation of lignin and has been termed ‘biostyrene’. In this work, the authors investigate the use of 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol analogues as a replacement for styrene as a reactive thinner for thermoset polyester, which is commonly used in fibreglass composite. 2-Methoxy-4-vinylphenyl acetate and 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenyl oleate were synthesised and along with unmodified 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol and 1,2-dimethoxy-4-vinylbenzene (3,4-dimethoxystyrene) were compared to styrene in typical polyester formulations. The mechanical properties by way of tensile tests and water-uptake tests and thermal properties by way of dynamic scanning calorimetry were used for comparison. Overall, the solubility issues were apparent using the biostyrenes, however, blends of biostyrenes with styrene of up to 50% showed no statistical difference with pure styrene in properties and so may be a viable styrene replacement in polyester used for fibreglass.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	T Technology > TP Chemical technology
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Chemistry Faculty of Science > WMG (Formerly the Warwick Manufacturing Group)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Glass fibers , Biopolymers, Composite materials , Renewable natural resources
Journal or Publication Title:	Green Materials
Publisher:	I C E Publishing
ISSN:	2049-1220
Official Date:	February 2015
Dates:	Date Event February 2015 Published
Volume:	3
Number:	January – March
Page Range:	pp. 35-42
DOI:	10.1680/gmat.14.00020
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Funder:	University of Warwick Postgraduate Research Scholarship, High Value Manufacturing Catapult

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