Washington State University

Junna Xin

Jinwen Zhang

Tuan Liu

The present embodiments herein generally relate to thermoset resins that are derived from vegetable oil based sources, including fibrous plant sources. The utilization of plant based oil as starting materials makes the technology a green alternative to currently available solutions. This, coupled with the novel synthetic methods that are utilized, results in a transformation of the plant based oils into useful, durable, and resilient thermoset resins.

Preparation of vegetable oil-based monomers for use in thermosetting resins

The subject matter disclosed herein is generally directed to methods of recycling epoxy polymers using organic salts as catalysts in an aqueous solution. Epoxy polymers and their composites are widely used in many fields such as coatings, adhesives, wind blades, automobiles, aeronautic vehicles, and sporting goods. However, the management of thermoset composite wastes is becoming a public concern as the out of service thermoset products build up. With the increasing awareness of environmental protection and the depleting of landfill sites, it is of great importance to develop an economically viable and environmentally-friendly recycling technology of thermoset materials that is suitable to industrial scale-up production. As such, there is a clear and present need for a novel solution that is environmentally friendly and scalable in the market.

Growing community of inventors

Pullman, WA, United States of America

Junna Xin