Rosin is an important natural product. It is composed
of ca. 90% acidic and ca. 10% neutral compounds.
The hydrogenated phenanthrene ring structure
in rosin acids is similar in rigidity to rigid
petroleum chemicals. Therefore, we could make
use of this bio-based feedstock to synthesize high
performance polymeric materials. In our previous
works, several kinds of rosin based anhydride type
[19] or diimide-diacid type epoxy curing agents
[20] were synthesized and their potential in improving
the properties of thermosetting resins was demonstrated.
In this paper, a rosin based epoxy with three
functional groups was synthesized and it was cured
with a rosin based curing agent. The objective of
this research is to make the full use of rosin rigidity
to synthesize a wholly rosin-based thermosetting
resin with satisfactory properties, so as to inspire us
to explore more and more renewable alternatives to
petroleum based polymeric materials.