Synthesis and characterization of thermosetting furan-based epoxy systems
Renewable alternatives to petroleum-based thermosetting polymers have drawn significant attention due to potential positive economic and ecological impact. New materials should mimic the rigid, phenylic structure of incumbent high-performance thermoset monomers. Furans derived from cellulose and hemicellulose are promising candidates for phenyl replacement. The synthesis of furan-based diepoxies is challenging, and direct property comparisons of thermosets prepared using furanyl and phenyl-based epoxy monomer analogues are required. In this work, analogous furanyl-based and phenyl-based diepoxy monomers were synthesized, and thermosets were prepared using amine curing agents. A structure-property study showed that furan-based polymers possess improved Tg (Δ = 8-16 °C) and improved glassy modulus (Δ = 0.1 to 0.6 GPa) relative to their phenylic analogues. The furan ring has thus been demonstrated to be a viable building block for renewable high-performance epoxies, with potential for application in other thermosetting polymers.
Hu, Fengshuo,La Scala, John J.,Sadler, Joshua M.,Palmese, Giuseppe R.
TACN-based oligomers with aromatic backbones for efficient nucleic acid delivery
Cationic oligomers with a rigid aromatic backbone were first applied as non-viral gene delivery vectors. These materials showed better DNA condensation ability than their flexible analogues. In vitro transfection experiments revealed that the materials with more rigid backbone exhibited considerably higher TE and lower cytotoxicity than 25 kDa PEI. This journal is the Partner Organisations 2014.