Interpenetrating covalent adaptable networks with enhanced mechanical properties and facile reprocessability and recyclability

Polymer blending has always been a critical strategy for preparing high-performance materials. By creating an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN), the incompatibility of different polymers could be overcome and a favorable bicontinuous phase structure could be achieved. Recently, the concept of covalent adaptable networks (CANs) based on reversible covalent bonds has brought many opportunities for developing and engineering sustainable high-performance polymer blends. Herein, we utilized the reversible hydrolysis/condensation of imines and boronic-esters to construct an interpenetrating covalent adaptable network (IPCAN) with a highly uniform phase structure from two immiscible single CANs, and to establish a closed loop between recycling single networks and regenerating IPCANs as well. The resultant IPCANs show not only a remarkable improvement in mechanical performance, but also a high restoration efficiency during multiple reprocessing. The outcomes of this work may provide new ideas for developing more sustainable high-performance polymer blends and IPNs with covalent reversible bonds.

Automated summary

The utilization of reversible covalent bonds in constructing an interpenetrating covalent adaptable network has led to significant improvements in mechanical performance and high restoration efficiency. This work may open up new avenues for developing more sustainable high-performance polymer blends and IPNs with covalent reversible bonds.