Biobased Flame Retardant Epoxy Resins and Composites

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Bernhard Schartel
• Subject Area: Polymer Materials ; Plastics Engineering ; Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers
• Term: from 2018 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 392273792

Exploring renewable bio-based epoxy resin with high-performance and proposing them as new engineering materials is urgent because of the diminishing petroleum oil reserves and environmental concerns. In order to obtain fire-retardant bio-based epoxy resins with high performance, novel bio-based epoxides contain phosphorous will be designed, synthesized and investigated. It is the aim to endow the bio-based epoxide and natural fibre reinforced epoxide biocomposites with inherent flame retardancy. The goal is to obtain excellent heat-resistant, flame-retardant, and mechanical properties. Further, these materials are discussed as alternatives or partly replacement of bisphenol A containing educts such as bis(4-hydroxyphenylene)-2,2-propane. We explore raw bio-base materials with rigid chemical structure such as eugenol, resveratrol, caffeic acid and react them with phosphorus compounds to obtain flame retardant bio-thermosetting materials. Further, we go for ramie fibre reinforced composites. The natural fibres are modified to improve their compatibility as well as their fire performance; simple treatment will be applied as well as a layer-by-layer coating. Comprehensive and multimethodical investigation will yield an understanding of the pyrolysis, flammability, and fire behaviour of the epoxy resins and composites with respect to the fire performance and the flame retardancy achieved in different fire scenarios. The modes of action will be identified and as far as possible quantified; by the means of comparing systematically varied materials, the structure-property relationships will be investigated. The most promising approaches are identified. Apart from the scientific objectives this project crucially stimulates the mobility of the involved researchers. Five months guest stays in the working groups will enable the scientific project employee to get a comprehensive knowledge on synthesis and preparation of advanced bio-based epoxy resins, preparation of biocomposites, and investigating their decomposition, flammability, and fire behaviour, and thus will promote the international scientific education as well.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: China
• Partner Organisation: National Natural Science Foundation of China
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Yu-Zhong Wang