18 Dec Enhancing the Recyclability of a Vegetable Oil-Based Epoxy Thermoset through Initiator Influence Back to Sci. Publications

ABSTRACT

Bisphenol A-based epoxy thermosets involve both environmental and health risks. By reacting a vegetal oil-based epoxide with an aromatic diacid containing S–S bonds a thermoset is produced. Herein, reprocessable thermosets were synthesized, the recyclability being designed through a dual mechanism: that of disulfide metathesis and of transesterifications.

To assess the feasibility of the reprocessing, a series of 10 initiators was tested to probe their effect not only on the cross-linking reaction but also on the recyclability. This study introduces for the first time the key role of the initiator on the material performance and on their reprocessing. A very good reprocessability was obtained for thermosets prepared using as initiator the imidazole. Moreover, the thermosets exhibit complete chemical recyclability in 1 N NaOH at 80 °C, after 3 days, without needing additional chemicals. The reprocessed materials have similar performance with the virgin ones, even after 10 cycles of reprocessing.

KEYWORDS

Plastics, Organic polymers, Differential scanning calorimetry, Nucleic acid structure, Materials, Epoxidized linseed oil, Dynamic hardener, Recyclability, Transesterification reaction, Disulfide exchange reaction

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