Bio-Based Epoxy Adhesives with Lignin-Based Aromatic Monophenols Replacing Bisphenol A

Abstract

A bio-epoxy surface adhesive for adherence of the metal component species to glass substrate with desirable adhesion strength, converted controlled removal upon request, and bio-based resource inclusion was developed. For the development of resin, three different lignin-based aromatic monophenols, guaiacol, cresol, and vanillin, were used in the chemical epoxidation reaction with epichlorohydrin. The forming transformation process was studied by viscoelasticity, in situ FTIR monitoring, and Raman. Unlike other hydroxyl phenyls, guaiacol showed successful epoxide production, and stability at room temperature. Optimization of epoxide synthesis was conducted by varying NaOH concentration or reaction time. The obtained product was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance and viscosity measurements. For the production of adhesive, environmentally problematic bisphenol A (BPA) epoxy was partially substituted with the environmentally acceptable, optimized guaiacol-based epoxy at 20, 50, and 80 wt.%. Mechanics, rheological properties, and the possibility of adhered phase de-application were assessed on the bio-substitutes and compared to commercially available polyepoxides or polyurethanes. Considering our aim, the sample composed of 80 wt.% bio-based epoxy/20 wt.% BPA thermoset was demonstrated to be the most suitable among those analyzed, as it was characterized by low BPA, desired boundary area and recoverability using a 10 wt.% acetic acid solution under ultrasound.

Keywords

• bio-based epoxy adhesives
• lignin-based aromatic monophenols
• guaiacol
• cresol
• vanillin
• bisphenol A (BPA) replacement