Development of bio-based hybrid resin, from natural lacquer

• Preparation of bio-based hybrid resin material using natural lacquer.
• Curing reaction was enhanced by sol–gel and crosslink reactions among additives.
• Thick hybrid resin was formed based on the sol–gel and crosslink reactions at r.t.
• Curing time of hybrid resin was improved by thermal treatment.

Preparation and structure analysis of a bio-based hybrid material composed of natural lacquer, epoxy, and organic silane compounds were investigated using liquid and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance. The good composition of additives in the hybrid was determined by the drying, hardness, and resin-molding properties. Although natural lacquer alone cannot form thick resins, this bio-based hybrid material showed good resin formation at room temperature without thermal treatment. This result could be based on the enhancement of curing by the sol–gel reaction between natural lacquer and the organic silane compound, and a crosslink reaction between organic silane and epoxy groups. At the same time, oxidative polymerization at the unsaturated side chains in the urushiol was enhanced by the sol–gel reaction because the catechol hydroxyl groups, which have an antioxidative property, reacted with the organic silane. In addition, this bio-based resin possesses a thermoset property because curing of the hybrid was improved by thermal treatment. Based on the structure analyses, the sol–gel reaction between urushiol and organic silane compound proceeded immediately, indicating the high reactivity of this sol–gel reaction. On the other hand, the reaction between bisphenol A-type epoxy resin and the organic silane seems to progress slowly after the epoxy ring opening. In addition, a sol–gel reaction occurred between the amine group in the organic silane and the hydroxyl group formed after the crosslink reaction of the epoxy group. These results suggested that the improvement in drying and molding properties of the hybrid was based on the chemical reactions among all components (i.e., natural lacquer, epoxy, and organic silane).