FUranic TUnable REsins for Sustainable materials – FUTURES

Lignocellulosic biomass offers great opportunity to develop sustainable polymeric materials with functional properties. Polyfurfuryl alcohol (PFA) is a thermoset resin obtained from polycondensation of furfuryl alcohol – a biobased platform molecule. Humins which are co-produced from biorefinery operations form a macromolecular furanic network that could be valorized into thermoset applications. However, both PFA and humins after thermal curing are relatively brittle due to their high cross-link densities. Therefore, the FUTURES project aims at tailoring the structure and properties of both PFA and humins in order to foresee new domains of application for these biobased polymers. The idea is based on the intrinsic capacity of furans for ring opening leading to the formation of flexible chains containing ketonic entities within the macromolecule. An optimal balance will be found to create sufficient open structures while keeping the advantage of the remaining furanic entities. The reactivity of the ketonic groups will be exploited to generate new functionalities or properties.