Developing non-isocyanate polyurethane chemistry for more sustainable structural composites in a circular economy

• Autores: Guillem Gilbert Maurice Seychal
• Directores de la Tesis: Jean Marie Raquez (dir. tes.), Nora Aramburu Ocariz (dir. tes.)
• Lectura: En la Universidad del País Vasco - Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea ( España ) en 2025
• Idioma: inglés
• Programa de doctorado: Programa de Doctorado en Química Aplicada y Materiales Poliméricos por la Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea
• Materias:
  • Química
    • Química macromolecular
  • Ciencias tecnológicas
    • Tecnología de materiales
• Enlaces
  • Tesis en acceso abierto en: ADDI
• Resumen

  • This doctoral thesis investigates polyhydroxyurethanes (PHUs) as a more sustainable alternative to conventional fossil-based polymer matrices used in natural fiber-reinforced composites (NFCs). PHUs are derived from CO2-based cyclic carbonates and polyamines, making them safer and greener. They offer strong hydrogen bonding with cellulosic fibers, improved recyclability through reversible reactions, and enhanced mechanical performance, showing a 20-30% improvement over traditional epoxy composites.To make PHUs suitable for industrial applications, a copolymerization strategy was developed that improved their processability and enabled their use in techniques like resin transfer molding (RTM). The resulting composites also exhibited self-healing properties and allowed for efficient fiber recovery, with natural fibers retaining their mechanical integrity after recycling.A life cycle assessment (LCA) confirmed the environmental advantages of PHU-based composites, supporting their potential role in sustainable materials development. However, further research is needed to fully align with the European Union's sustainability goals.