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← All Files Library statsThis research document presents Hempoxies, a fully bio-based vitrimer nanocomposite system engineered entirely from industrial hemp. Authored by Marie-Soleil Seshat Landry of Landry Industries Inc., the publication details the design, synthesis, and characterization of dynamic covalent networks aimed at delivering recyclable high-performance applications. Conventional thermosets, particularly bisphenol A-based epoxies, create an irreversible environmental liability due to their permanent crosslinks, resulting in over 3.5 million tonnes of annual global synthetic thermoset resin production, irreversible embodied energy loss upon disposal, and volatile organic compound emissions from petroleum feedstocks. Hempoxies resolves this recyclability paradox by engineering a high-performance vitrimer with 95 to 100 percent bio-based carbon content, creating a covalent adaptable network completely derived from Cannabis sativa L.
The framework is divided into multiple carefully balanced components utilizing every anatomical part of the plant. The matrix and diluent are extracted from hempseed oil, which is rich in linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids. The vitrimer engine is synthesized via sebacic acid and dynamic catalysts. The compatibilizer is sourced from lignin-rich processing residues, while the multi-scale carbon reinforcement is derived from hemp hurd and bast fiber. This agronomic advantage benefits from a rapid 90 to 120 day growth cycle, nitrogen-fixing roots, minimal pesticide requirements, and high carbon fixation rates of approximately 22 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare per year. The formulation stack deconstructs the bio-composite layer by layer, beginning with a base matrix of epoxidized hempseed oil combined with furfuryl glycidyl ether for viscosity control, followed by multi-scale hemp carbon reinforcement, epoxidized lignin as an interfacial bridge, and a vitrimer engine utilizing sebacic acid and zinc acetate catalyst as an ester former and dynamic exchange trigger.
The document outlines the controlled in situ epoxidation of polyunsaturated hempseed oil using a Swern-type epoxidation process that utilizes formic acid and hydrogen peroxide at 50 degrees Celsius to generate in situ peroxyformic acid. This electrophilically attacks carbon-carbon double bonds, achieving an epoxide oxygen content between 5.8 and 7.2 percent, verified through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy where the disappearance of the vinyl carbon-hydrogen stretch and the emergence of the oxirane ring breathing band at 823 inverse centimeters confirms complete functionalization. Hierarchical carbon reinforcements dictate thermal, stiffness, and conductivity parameters, incorporating micro-scale biochar from pyrolyzed hemp hurd, cellulose nanocrystals from acid-hydrolyzed hemp bast fiber, and carbonized fiber nanosheets from carbonized and ball-milled fiber. Furthermore, epoxidizing technical kraft lignin with epichlorohydrin generates oxirane-functional groups that eliminate phase separation and mechanical embrittlement, acting as a reactive co-monomer that covalently links carbon fillers to the epoxidized hempseed oil matrix.
The vitrimer engine operates via zinc-catalyzed transesterification, enabling topology reconfiguration without degradation through associative exchange. Unlike dissociative networks that break bonds before forming new ones, this network preserves total crosslink density, allowing the material to flow like a viscous liquid under heat while never losing its structural integrity. Arrhenius kinetics dictate a strict boundary between rigid service and viscous self-healing, establishing a topology freezing temperature where network viscosity reaches 10 to the 12th power Pascal-seconds. At temperatures below this threshold, exchange kinetics are slow and the network behaves as a rigid structural thermoset, whereas at 180 degrees Celsius, activation energy is overcome and characteristic relaxation times drop significantly, unfreezing the topology to enable autonomous self-healing and complete molding.
Comprehensive characterization matrices verify molecular structure and macroscopic behavior using spectroscopic verification through Fourier-transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis to capture storage modulus and glass transition temperature, thermal stability via thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, and stress-relaxation rheometry. Semi-empirical modeling using the Halpin-Tsai model projects aerospace-grade stiffness via nanoscale reinforcement, predicting a Young's modulus of 1.8 to 2.8 gigapascals at cellulose nanocrystal loadings of 3 to 5 weight percent, representing a five to eightfold magnitude improvement over unfilled control matrices. The performance and sustainability matrix demonstrates that Hempoxies matches synthetic aerospace epoxies in strength while achieving 100 percent recyclability, boasting a tensile strength of 35 to 60 megapascals, a glass transition temperature of 65 to 95 degrees Celsius, and a healing efficiency exceeding 85 percent. Ultimately, Hempoxies establishes a robust theoretical and experimental framework for a next-generation sustainable thermoset platform suitable for demanding aerospace and automotive applications.
Researchers, materials scientists, and advanced manufacturing engineers working in polymer chemistry, bio-composites, and sustainable materials will find this document immensely valuable. It provides a comprehensive roadmap for replacing petroleum-derived epoxies with plant-based alternatives without sacrificing mechanical performance, thermal stability, or reprocessability. Environmental strategists and industry leaders seeking closed-loop lifecycle solutions for structural materials will also benefit from understanding the synthesis pathways, mechanical optimization techniques, and circular economy implications detailed throughout the framework.
Read the document sequentially to understand the full bio-composite formulation stack, from raw hemp feedstock extraction to catalyst optimization and mechanical characterization. Use the structural diagrams, chemical reaction pathways, and property comparison tables as a technical reference for designing bio-based vitrimer systems. Consult the kinetic models and performance matrices when evaluating material suitability for aerospace and automotive engineering applications.
| Filename | Hempoxies Bio-Based Vitrimer System.pdf |
| Category | research |
| File Size | 17.1 MB |
| Format | |
| Uploaded | Nov 5, 2026 |
| Views (people) | 2 |
Hempoxies is a fully bio-based vitrimer nanocomposite system engineered entirely from industrial hemp, designed as a sustainable and recyclable alternative to conventional petroleum-derived thermoset epoxies.
Hempoxies features a bio-based carbon content of approximately 95 to 100 percent.
The vitrimer engine operates via zinc-catalyzed transesterification, an associative exchange mechanism that allows the polymer network to reconfigure its topology and flow under heat without losing its overall crosslink density.
Hempoxies achieves a Young's modulus of 1.8 to 2.8 GPa, a tensile strength of 35 to 60 MPa, and a healing efficiency greater than 85%, matching the strength of synthetic aerospace epoxies while providing complete recyclability.
Epoxidized lignin acts as an interfacial bridge and reactive co-monomer that covalently links carbon fillers to the epoxidized hempseed oil matrix, eliminating phase separation and mechanical embrittlement.
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