Keynote Lecture Glycidyl carbamate functional resins, versatile intermediates for the preparation of high performance polymeric networks

Extensive materials research and development in the 21st century is directed towards the development of novel hybrid materials with tunable properties. The purpose of such formulations isto achieve unique and superior properties that cannot be achieved using only a single component of the hybrid. Polyurethanes and epoxy resins are widely used systems in different industrial sectors. Glycidyl carbamate (GC) chemistry has opened a new opportunity for combination of polyurethanes andepoxy resins properties into a single system. In addition to having epoxide functionality, GCmaterials contain carbamate (urethane) groups. The GC functional group can be readily synthesized from the reaction of an isocyanate and glycidol. Presence of epoxy group provides widespread prospect for transformation to crosslinked networks like common epoxy resins. Meanwhile, the system is free from hazardous isocyanates, but due topresence of urethane linkages, the physical and mechanical properties associated with polyurethanes can be attained. During the past years this methodology for the preparation of thermoset networks was utilized by usand others for the preparation of materials with final applications in electrical insulating coatings, thermal or radiation curable protective coatings, biodegradable/biocompatible scaffolds, wounddressing membranes and matrix of different composites. Formulation of these systems, their properties and advantages in comparison to conventional analogous will be discussed in this keynote lecture.