Thermosetting polymers from renewable sources

Environmental concerns and the need for sustainable industrial practices have sparked the search for alternative materials that offer a lower impact on the environment. Over the course of the past few decades, numerous bio-based polymers have been developed from natural resources. Among the materials, bio-based thermosets are of particular interest due to their increased thermal stability in comparison to thermoplastics. This review covers recent advancements made in the field of bio-based thermosets, with a special focus devoted to resins prepared from vegetable oils, natural phenolic compounds and a selection of other thermosetting systems developed recently based on either the polymerization of multifunctional monomers or the crosslinking of linear systems. This review article concludes with a critical perspective on the environmental implications of bio-based thermosets.