Open Access

ARTICLE

New Rigid Furan Biofoams Based on Hydrolysable Chesnut (Castanea sativa) Tannin by Chemical Expansion

João Vitor Dorini Falavinha¹, Pedro Henrique Gonzales De Cademartori², Philippe Gérardin¹, Antonio Pizzi¹, Christine Gérardin-Charbonnier^1,*

1 UR 4370 USC 1445 LERMAB, INRAE, Faculté des Sciences et Technologies, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, 54506, France
2 GNanoAgro, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, 82590, Brazil

* Corresponding Author: Christine Gérardin-Charbonnier. Email:

Journal of Renewable Materials 2025, 13(4), 687-697. https://doi.org/10.32604/jrm.2025.058902

Received 23 September 2024; Accepted 14 February 2025; Issue published 21 April 2025

Abstract

Tannins are polyphenols widely present in the plant kingdom, commonly divided into two groups: condensed and hydrolysable tannins. Sustainable furanic bio-foams based on condensed tannins have been largely studied, but little is described about the use of hydrolysable tannins for this material. This study examined the potential of hydrolysable chestnut tannin in comparison to condensed mimosa tannins to produce furanic foams by chemical expansion. Due to the low reactivity of the hydrolysable tannin, the use of an external source for its polymerization and curing was necessary. Through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) chromatography, it was possible to observe that the new foams presented small differences in functional groups compared to the condensed tannin foams, presenting peaks related to carboxyl groups. In terms of physical properties, the chestnut foams showed an apparent density 36% higher than the conventional mimosa tannin foams and a superior hydrophilic character. In terms of thermal properties, both foams exhibit high thermal stability, with the acacia tannin foam being slightly superior. In summary, this research paves the way for new applications of hydrolysable tannins in bio-foams and materials science.

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