Dr. Dominic Thibeault

Base

Full name	Dr. Dominic Thibeault
Summary	Developing new thermoset resins that are made with renewable materials and pose less health and environmental risks, including epoxy and vinyl ester
Type of researcher	Professor
Introduce yourself, your experience and your credentials	Mr. Thibeault spent 9 years in the academic R&D sector after completing his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. Following his graduate studies in Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Product Chemistry, he shifted to Material Chemistry and had two post-doctoral internships in Organic Nanomaterials and in Semi-Conductive Polymers. Since June 2010, he has been working as a chemist for OLEOTEK’s R&D department, specializing in synthesis and implementation of bio-based thermosetting polymer resins. Mr. Thibeault has also been a lecturer in Organic Chemistry at the UQÀC since 2004 and associate professor for Université Laval’s chemistry department since 2013 where he currently co-directs a master’s student. He also has the status of associate professor in the department of chemistry, biochemistry and physics at UQTR where he co-directs a doctoral student.
Describe your research	My research consists of using bio-based feedstocks such as vegetable oils or natural phenolics and produce thermoset resins by chemical synthesis. Once we have the resins, we have to formulate them. For example, I have a bio-based vinyl ester resin where we have introduced a reactive diluant so as to decrease the viscosity. We also introduce promoters so as to speed up the curing process. Applications that we are looking for or bio-based vinyl esters are parts for airplanes or parts of simulator. For the epoxy resins, we are looking for water pipe repair.
Explain its significance	One objective of the chair is to reduce our dependence of petroleum and consequently reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Another objective of the chair concerns public health. Laws are being more and more restrictive concerning styrene emissions due to its toxicity and many industrials are currently looking for solution in replacement of styrene. Another compound that we want to replace is BPA or bisphenol A this compound is known for estrogenic activities and this compound is also banned many food applications.