Macromolecules
Macromolecules
3 years ago

Eugenol-Derived Biobased Epoxy: Shape Memory, Repairing, and Recyclability

Eugenol-Derived Biobased Epoxy: Shape Memory, Repairing, and Recyclability
Tuan Liu, Junna Xin, Yuzhan Li, Jinwen Zhang, Liwei Wang, Wangcheng Liu, Cheng Hao
Conventional epoxy polymers are constructed by petro-based resources that are toxic and nonrenewable, and their permanent cross-links make them difficult to be reprocessed, reshaped, and recycled. In this study, a unique eugenol-derived epoxy (Eu-EP) is synthesized, and then vitrimeric materials are prepared by reacting Eu-EP with succinic anhydride (SA) at various ratios (1:0.5, 1:0.75, and 1:1) in the presence of zinc-containing catalysts. All vitrimers exhibit excellent shape changing, crack healing, and shape memory properties. Although vitrimers with 1:0.75 and 1:1 ratios cannot be physically reprocessed, they can be well reprocessed by the chemical method of being simply decomposed in a benign ethanol solution without loading additional catalyst. The collected decomposed polymers can form vitrimers again after exposure at 190 °C for 3 h. This work combines the concepts of vitrimer preparation, chemical recycling, and biobased polymer together, which would bring a feasible way to satisfy the demands of sustainability.

Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.7b01889

DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.7b01889

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