Fully Recyclable Bio-Based Epoxy Formulations Using Epoxidized Precursors from Waste Flour: Thermal and Mechanical Characterization

Abstract

Organic wastes represent an increasing pollution problem due to the exponential growth of their presence in the waste stream. Among these, waste flour cannot be easily reused by transforming it into high-value-added products. Another major problem is represented by epoxy-based thermosets, which have wide use but also poor recyclability. The object of the present paper is, therefore, to analyze both of these problems and come up with innovative solutions. Indeed, we propose a completely new approach, aimed at reusing the organic waste flour, by converting it into high-value epoxy-based thermosets that could be fully recycled into a reusable plastic matrix when added to the waste epoxy-based thermosets. Throughout the research activity, the organic waste was transformed into an epoxidized prepolymer, which was then mixed with a bio-based monomer cured with a cleavable ammine. The latter reactant was based on Recyclamine™ by Connora Technologies, and in this paper, we demonstrate that this original approach could work with the synthetized epoxy prepolymers derived from the waste flour. The cured epoxies were fully characterized in terms of their thermal, rheological, and flexural properties. The results obtained showed optimal recyclability of the new resin developed.

Keywords

• epoxidation
• thermoset recycling
• organic waste