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Upcycling of dynamic thiourea thermoset polymers by intrinsic chemical strengthening

Author

Listed:
  • Haijun Feng

    (Zhejiang University
    ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center)

  • Ning Zheng

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Wenjun Peng

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Chujun Ni

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Huijie Song

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Qian Zhao

    (Zhejiang University
    ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center)

  • Tao Xie

    (Zhejiang University
    ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center)

Abstract

Thermoset polymers are indispensable but their environmental impact has been an ever-increasing concern given their typical intractability. Although concepts enabling their reprocessing have been demonstrated, their practical potential is limited by the deteriorated performance of the reprocessed materials. Here, we report a thiourea based thermoset elastomer that can be reprocessed with enhanced mechanical properties. We reveal that the thiourea bonds are dynamic which leads to the reprocessibility. More importantly, they can undergo selective oxidation during high temperature reprocessing, resulting in significant chemical strengthening within certain reprocessing cycles. This is opposite to most polymers for which reprocessing typically results in material deterioration. The possibility of having materials with inherent reprocessing induced performance enhancement points to a promising direction towards polymer recycling.

Suggested Citation

  • Haijun Feng & Ning Zheng & Wenjun Peng & Chujun Ni & Huijie Song & Qian Zhao & Tao Xie, 2022. "Upcycling of dynamic thiourea thermoset polymers by intrinsic chemical strengthening," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-28085-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28085-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peyton Shieh & Wenxu Zhang & Keith E. L. Husted & Samantha L. Kristufek & Boya Xiong & David J. Lundberg & Jet Lem & David Veysset & Yuchen Sun & Keith A. Nelson & Desiree L. Plata & Jeremiah A. Johns, 2020. "Cleavable comonomers enable degradable, recyclable thermoset plastics," Nature, Nature, vol. 583(7817), pages 542-547, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yan Mei Li & Ze Ping Zhang & Min Zhi Rong & Ming Qiu Zhang, 2022. "Tailored modular assembly derived self-healing polythioureas with largely tunable properties covering plastics, elastomers and fibers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Bo Qin & Siyuan Liu & Zehuan Huang & Lingda Zeng & Jiang-Fei Xu & Xi Zhang, 2022. "Closed-loop chemical recycling of cross-linked polymeric materials based on reversible amidation chemistry," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.

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