Reprocessable, Self-Adhesive, and Recyclable Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Composites Using a Catalyst-Free Self-Healing Bio-Based Vitrimer Matrix

Abstract

The application of carbon fiber-reinforced composites (CFRCs) is limited owing to the difficulty of chemically recycling carbon fibers (CFs). To address this problem, we cured tung oil-based triglycidyl ester (TOTGE) with menthane diamine (MDA) in order to obtain a chemically degradable bio-based vitrimer matrix. The obtained vitrimer matrix could undergo a dynamic transesterification reaction catalyzed by the tertiary amines generated from the curing reaction. The TOTGE−MDA vitrimer matrix shows excellent self-healing performance, physical reprocessing, and shape memory properties. Meanwhile, CFRCs based on the TOTGE−MDA vitrimer matrix also exhibited excellent reprocessing, self-adhesive, and shape memory properties. The CFRC underwent rapid chemical degradation with ethanolamine at 90 °C. The performance of the recycled CFs was similar to that of the virgin CFs. This work provides an effective solution to facilitate the sustainable development of CFRCs.

Readily recyclable, high-performance catalyst-free tung oil-derived vitrimer and carbon fiber reinforced composites

“…The tensile strength of TGDOM-TTMA is higher than that of DGEBA-TTMA, but the elongation at break is reduced. The reasons for these results are that TGDOM has higher rigid and crosslinking sites than DGEBA, and TGDOM-TTMA can form multiple H-bonds due to the versatility and compact hydroxyester structure, which are consistent with the above conclusion of gel content properties [30].…”

Progress in the design and synthesis of biobased epoxy covalent adaptable networks

“…Chen and co-workers synthesized a tung oil-based triglycidyl ester (TOTGE) and cured it with menthane diamine to prepare transesterification-based vitrimers. 140 The obtained vitrimers exhibited a tensile strength of 27.3-57.6 MPa and an elongation at break of 12.0-54.0%. The tertiary amines were generated from a ring-opening reaction catalyzed dynamic transes-terification reactions, which allowed the exchange of ester bonds to occur without additional catalysts, thus endowing the vitrimers with self-healing performance, recyclability, and shape-memory properties.…”

Recyclable CFRPs with extremely high Tg: hydrothermal recyclability in pure water and upcycling of the recyclates for new composite preparation

“…2d summarizes the T g and tensile strength of the reported epoxy materials containing dynamic covalent bonds. 20,24,26,[39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47] It is well understood that the T g of a thermosetting polymer is closely related to its backbone stiffness and crosslink density. In most of the reported recyclable CFRPs, the polymer matrixes are purposely designed with exible backbone structures and low crosslink densities to achieve the desired depolymerization rate under mild conditions, which consequently leads to low T g s of the resulting materials.…”