Novel Bio‐Based Epoxy Resins with Long‐Silicone Chain from Honokiol

Abstract In order to explore more sustainable epoxy resins, a series of novel bio‐based epoxy resins with long silicone‐chain are synthesized from honokiol. First, honokiol epoxy (HOEP) is synthesized from honokiol. Then, the hydrogen‐containing siloxane (HS) is copolymerized with honokiol epoxy, and the bio‐based epoxy resins with long silicone‐chain are prepared through the hydrosilylation reaction. Before curing with methyl hexahydrophthalic anhydride (MHHPA), the structure of silicone honokiol epoxy (SIHOEP) is confirmed by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR). The molecular weight of SIHOEP is analyzed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The results show that the toughness of SIHOEP‐MHHPA is enhanced after curing, the maximum elongation at break reached 45.75%, and the glass transition temperature ( T g ) is up to 92.9 °C. Long silicone‐chain segment can enhance the toughness of bio‐based epoxy. By adjusting the hydrogen content of long‐chain hydrogen‐containing siloxane and the reaction ratio, the overall performance of bio‐based epoxy silicone resins can be effectively controlled, which provides a valuable guide for the design of bio‐based epoxy materials with excellent mechanical properties. Meanwhile, the curing kinetics of bio‐based silicone/epoxy hybrid resins with methyl hexahydrophthalic anhydride (MHHPA) as curing agent is studied.