Synthesis and characterization of itaconic-based epoxy resin: Chemical and thermal properties of partially biobased epoxy resins

The quest for more sustainable structural epoxy resin (ER) adhesives is of major importance, environmentally and economically. A more friendly-environmental ER based on itaconic acid (IA), bisphenol A (BPA) and epichlorohydrin (ECH) was synthesized without the use of a catalyst. The obtained products were chemically characterized by means of 1 H NMR and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy analysis. Thermal properties and rheological performances of the developed pre-polymer resins were also studied, and the final properties compared with a well-known commercial epoxy resin (ER-SIKA). Overall, the increase of IA content, resulted in a decrease of the glass transition temperature (T g ) of the pre-polymer resins, with values ranging between −9 °C and 31 °C. The obtained results showed that the prepared biobased ERs presented promising features for future crosslinking and can replace totally or partially BPA based ERs. • Synthesis of partially biobased epoxy resins containing itaconic acid was accomplished. • Thermal stability of itaconic-based ERs similar to a DGEBA commercial product. • Viscosity tends to decrease with the increase of IA and ECH content. • The increase of itaconic acid amount resulted in lower T g.