Thermosets are extensively used in various applications due to their dimensional stability, good mechanical properties and high chemical resistance. However, they are considered unsustainable due to their petroleum-based resources, inadequate recyclability and unreprocessability. Biobased vitrimers, also known as bio-based covalent adaptable networks, represent a promising eco-friendly alternative to traditional thermosets such as Epoxy resins due to their reshaping and re-processing properties. This work focuses on the development of new, sustainable epoxy ester resin from the bio-based building block: Gallic acid, ethylene glycol and succinic acid. Gallic acid was first glycidylated by means of epichlorohydrin to produce the bio-based epoxy resin monomer in moderate yield. Ethylene glycol and succinic anhydride were reacted in the melt in 1:2 molar ratio to obtain the bio-based epoxy hardener in high yield (96.5%). This hardener was then was reacted with the glycidylated monomer in different molar ratios and in the presence of zinc as a transesterification catalyst to obtain the bio-based vitrimer. The materials obtained in this work were characterized by spectroscopic techniques, thermal scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis. Additionally, the vitrimer’s thermal and thermo-mechanical properties were investigated.
