Thermosetting (bio)materials derived from renewable resources: A critical review

This review presents the recent advances in the synthesis, properties and applications of thermosetting materials derived from renewable resources. Thermosetting materials are highly cross-linked polymers that are cured or set using heat, or heat and pressure, and/or light irradiation. This leads to high-performance products for industry due to their high modulus, strength, durability and resistance towards thermal stress and chemical attacks as provided by their high cross-linking density. Within this contribution, a special emphasis was made on a broad-brush approach over the potential opportunities and drawbacks concerning the use of renewable feedstock in the design of some commonly used networks such as phenolics, epoxy, polyester and polyurethane resins. Thereby, the utilization of renewable resources is discussed as a novel and appropriate sustainable feedstock rather than as a substitute for petroleum-based thermosetting materials. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.