Investigation of Bio-Sourced Resveratrol Epoxy Resin as a Matrix Material for Structural Aerospace Composites

Abstract

The aviation sector increasingly prioritises sustainability, necessitating the development of
environmentally friendly materials. Polymer matrix composites (PMCs), widely utilised in
aerospace for their excellent strength, stiffness and low weight, predominantly rely on petroleum
derived epoxy resins. These resins pose significant environmental concerns, including dependency
on non-renewable resources, health risks, and limited recyclability. This thesis explores the
feasibility of bio-based resveratrol epoxy resin as a sustainable replacement for commercial epoxy
monomers. A comparison with commercial Tactix 742 monomer is motivated by its application in
areas requiring high thermomechanical performance, a niche that RTE has the potential to fill.
Furthermore, RTE is also compared with BADGE as the most common commercial monomer, as
well as other bio-based monomers. Derived from renewable sources such as knotweed, resveratrol
offers a trifunctional aromatic structure with the potential to achieve high thermal and mechanical
properties while reducing the environmental burden of epoxy.
The study entailed the synthesis and detailed characterisation of resveratrol epoxy resin, assessing
thermal, physical, and mechanical properties. Results demonstrated a bio-based content of 74%
compared to 25% of the T742-based analogue, indicating the resin's strong potential as a renewable
material. Thermal analysis revealed a high glass transition temperature (Tg) of over 300°C and
thermal resistance of up to 350°C, outperforming aerospace-grade commercial epoxies.
Mechanical testing highlighted the resin's excellent performance, including fracture toughness
47% higher than analogue T742 resin. Furthermore, additional mechanical testing of composite
panels showed RTE's usability in composite structures.
The findings confirm that resveratrol-based epoxy resin offers a sustainable, high-performance
alternative to traditional petroleum-based matrices. It also tackles some common bio-based epoxy
issues, such as hydrophilicity and low thermal stability. Recommendations for further
optimisation, including viscosity reduction, further cure kinetic characterisation and thermal
performance investigation, are provided to facilitate the broader adoption of bio-based
thermosetting systems in aerospace and other high-performance sectors.