Glass Fiber Reinforced Composite Produced with a Novel Matrix of Bio-based Unsaturated Polyester Resin made from 2,5-Furan Dicarboxylic Acid and Isosorbide

Abstract In this study, a bio-based resin containing glycerol, isosorbide, and 2,5-furan dicarboxylic acid was used to produce a glass fiber reinforced composite. The thermomechanical properties of the resin were examined through dynamic mechanical analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry, and were compared with those of commercially available unsaturated polyester resin and epoxy resin. Glass fiber composites were prepared using the synthesized bio-based resin, commercial unsaturated polyester resin, and commercial epoxy resin. Tensile tests, flexural tests, and aging tests were performed on all three types of composites and the results were compared. The findings suggest that the bio-based resin exhibits superior thermomechanical properties compared to the commercial resins. Bio-based resin demonstrates a high storage modulus of 4807 MPa and a loss modulus of 72 MPa at 25 ℃, along with a high glass transition temperature of 173 ℃. The flexural and tensile properties of the bio-based resin were better than that of the commercial resins. The composite produced from bio-based resin shows a flexural strength of 334 MPa and a tensile strength of 256 MPa. Aging results indicate that the synthesized bio-based resin was fairly stable at elevated temperatures. The outcome of this work shows that the bio-based glass fiber reinforced composite is a promising composite for high temperature applications.