Sustainable Epoxy Resins from Plant Tissue-Derived Tannic Acid

Date: May 28, 2018

Country: United States

Application

• Development of eco-friendly, plant-based epoxy resins for the plastics and coatings industries.
• Creation of non-toxic, renewable alternatives to petroleum-derived hardening agents in adhesives and coatings.

Description

This project explores the use of tannic acid (TA) as a sustainable and non-toxic alternative for epoxy hardening agents in plastics manufacturing. Tannic acid, found in plant tissues, can create epoxy polymers with high thermal stability, offering an eco-friendly solution compared to petroleum-based materials. The study highlights the potential of TA in replacing toxic precursors used in the production of thermoset plastics, though higher temperatures are currently needed for effective polymerization. The research aims to promote greener and safer practices in the plastics industry.

Pathway Description:

The process used in this project involves reacting tannic acid (TA) with epoxy resins to form a polymer through a cross-linking reaction. The reaction requires high temperatures (around 150°C) to achieve sufficient mechanical and thermal properties. This process replaces petroleum-derived epoxy hardeners with a renewable, non-toxic alternative from plant tissues. The resulting TA-based epoxy polymer exhibits high thermal stability and can be used in applications like adhesives and coatings.