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Catalytic disconnection of C–O bonds in epoxy resins and composites

Author

Listed:
  • Alexander Ahrens

    (Aarhus University)

  • Andreas Bonde

    (Aarhus University)

  • Hongwei Sun

    (Aarhus University)

  • Nina Kølln Wittig

    (Aarhus University)

  • Hans Christian D. Hammershøj

    (Aarhus University)

  • Gabriel Martins Ferreira Batista

    (Aarhus University)

  • Andreas Sommerfeldt

    (Danish Technological Institute)

  • Simon Frølich

    (Danish Technological Institute)

  • Henrik Birkedal

    (Aarhus University)

  • Troels Skrydstrup

    (Aarhus University)

Abstract

Fibre-reinforced epoxy composites are well established in regard to load-bearing applications in the aerospace, automotive and wind power industries, owing to their light weight and high durability. These composites are based on thermoset resins embedding glass or carbon fibres1. In lieu of viable recycling strategies, end-of-use composite-based structures such as wind turbine blades are commonly landfilled1–4. Because of the negative environmental impact of plastic waste5,6, the need for circular economies of plastics has become more pressing7,8. However, recycling thermoset plastics is no trivial matter1–4. Here we report a transition-metal-catalysed protocol for recovery of the polymer building block bisphenol A and intact fibres from epoxy composites. A Ru-catalysed, dehydrogenation/bond, cleavage/reduction cascade disconnects the C(alkyl)–O bonds of the most common linkages of the polymer. We showcase the application of this methodology to relevant unmodified amine-cured epoxy resins as well as commercial composites, including the shell of a wind turbine blade. Our results demonstrate that chemical recycling approaches for thermoset epoxy resins and composites are achievable.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander Ahrens & Andreas Bonde & Hongwei Sun & Nina Kølln Wittig & Hans Christian D. Hammershøj & Gabriel Martins Ferreira Batista & Andreas Sommerfeldt & Simon Frølich & Henrik Birkedal & Troels Sk, 2023. "Catalytic disconnection of C–O bonds in epoxy resins and composites," Nature, Nature, vol. 617(7962), pages 730-737, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:617:y:2023:i:7962:d:10.1038_s41586-023-05944-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05944-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Junheng Zhang & Can Jiang & Guoyan Deng & Mi Luo & Bangjiao Ye & Hongjun Zhang & Menghe Miao & Tingcheng Li & Daohong Zhang, 2024. "Closed-loop recycling of tough epoxy supramolecular thermosets constructed with hyperbranched topological structure," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.

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