Bio-Based Reprocessable and Degradable Epoxy Resins via Inverse Vulcanization
Yu Jin, Chengcheng Hu, Zhengxiang Wang, Zhiqiang Xia, Rui Li, Shuo Shi, Shichao Xu, Liang Yuan
Abstract
Designing sustainable epoxy resins with intrinsic recyclability and degradability has become vital in polymer science. Here, we report sulfur chain-modified epoxy networks (S x E y U z ) through catalyst-free tri-component polymerization of elemental sulfur with glycidyl ethers of bio-sourced eugenol (EGE) and 10-undecenol (UGE) via inverse vulcanization. The biogenic allyl protons on EGE were disclosed to be critical for the dual-mechanism cross-linking system. Intermediates from the tri-component polymerization were found to be flowable, storable, and post-curable. Reprocessable epoxy polymers with tensile strength up to 13.0 MPa were obtained after curing, surpassing most reported bio-based polymers via inverse vulcanization. Carbon fiber (CF) composites fabricated in the S x E y U z matrix can be readily digested in a methanol solution of Na 2 S and neat hexylamine to recycle CF.