Vitrimerization: Converting Thermoset Polymers into Vitrimers

TLDR

Thermoset polymers possess excellent mechanical properties and solvent resistance yet are unrecyclable, whereas vitrimers with covalent adaptable networks can be recycled. The study introduces a simple vitrimerization method to convert permanent cross‑linked thermosets into vitrimer polymers. The method achieves this conversion without depolymerization. The vitrimerized thermosets retain comparable mechanical properties and solvent resistance to the originals, enabling recycling and reuse with minimal loss and closed‑loop recycling with low environmental impact.

Abstract

Thermoset polymers with permanently cross-linked networks have outstanding mechanical properties and solvent resistance, but they cannot be reprocessed or recycled. On the other hand, vitrimers with covalent adaptable networks can be recycled. Here we provide a simple and practical method coined as "vitrimerization" to convert the permanent cross-linked thermosets into vitrimer polymers without depolymerization. The vitrimerized thermosets exhibit comparable mechanical properties and solvent resistance with the original ones. This method allows recycling and reusing the unrecyclable thermoset polymers with minimum loss in mechanical properties and enables closed-loop recycling of thermosets with the least environmental impact.