Bio-Derived Self-healing Epoxy Resins

Abstract

This chapter discusses different bio-renewable sources for epoxy resins and adhesives. The objective is to shed some light on the potential of using bio-renewable resources to replace the toxic epoxy components while not compromising their high-performance characteristics. Such bio-renewable alternatives can be obtained from but are not limited to vegetable oils, lignin, isosorbide, natural phenols, and tannic acid (TA). For each of these alternatives, their self-healing mechanisms capabilities are detailed. Moreover, the synthesis of natural phenols and TA is provided, highlighting the effect of their structure on the mechanical properties and the healing efficiency. Thanks to their superior thermal and mechanical properties, some of these “green” solutions demonstrated a high potential for industrial applications.