Development of High-Performance Bio-Based Polymers from Plant Oils

Abstract

Bio-based polymeric materials from renewable resources are significantly important in industrial and economic viewpoints. Inexpensive triglyceride plant oils have been used for production of valuable resins. However, these oil-based polymeric materials do not show enough properties of rigidity and strength required for structural applications by themselves. In this account, new crosslinkable polyphenols were designed on the basis of model “urushi” and synthesized by the oxidative polymerization of urushiol analogues, phenol derivatives bearing an unsaturated group. Furthermore, bio-based composite materials from renewable natural oils have been developed. By selected combination of natural oil and additives, the properties of the oil-based polymers were significantly improved.