Hyperbranched Dynamic Crosslinking Networks Enable Degradable, Reconfigurable, and Multifunctional Epoxy Vitrimer

Degradation and reprocessing of thermoset polymers have long been intractable challenges to meet a sustainable future. Star strategies via dynamic cross-linking hydrogen bonds and/or covalent bonds can afford reprocessable thermosets, but often at the cost of properties or even their functions. Herein, a simple strategy coined as hyperbranched dynamic crosslinking networks (HDCNs) toward in-practice engineering a petroleum-based epoxy thermoset into degradable, reconfigurable, and multifunctional vitrimer is provided. The special characteristics of HDCNs involve spatially topological crosslinks for solvent adaption and multi-dynamic linkages for reversible behaviors. The resulting vitrimer displays mild room-temperature degradation to dimethylacetamide and can realize the cycling of carbon fiber and epoxy powder from composite. Besides, they have supra toughness and high flexural modulus, high transparency as well as fire-retardancy surpassing their original thermoset. Notably, it is noted in a chance-following that ethanol molecule can induce the reconstruction of vitrimer network by ester-exchange, converting a stiff vitrimer into elastomeric feature, and such material records an ultrahigh modulus (5.45 GPa) at -150 degrees C for their ultralow-temperature condition uses. This is shaping up to be a potentially sustainable advanced material to address the post-consumer thermoset waste, and also provide a newly crosslinked mode for the designs of high-performance polymer. Hyperbranched dynamic crosslinking networks (HDCNs) convert a thermoset network from permanently three-dimensional-structure to dynamically topological-crosslinked architecture, programming a petroleum-based thermoset into degradable, reconfigurable and multifunctional vitrimer. They are capable of room-temperature degradation to solvent, and exhibit reconfigurability from stiff vitrimer to elastomer. Vitrimers also display enhanced modulus, toughness, flame-retardancy, and high transparency when compared to native commodity thermosets.image

Automated summary

A new strategy of using hyperbranched dynamic crosslinking networks (HDCNs) to convert petroleum-based thermosets into degradable, reconfigurable, and multifunctional vitrimers has been proposed. HDCNs possess solvent adaptation and reversible behavior, enabling degradation and reconstruction at room temperature. The resulting vitrimers exhibit superior properties compared to the original thermosets.