Degradable bio-based epoxy vitrimers based on imine chemistry and their application in recyclable carbon fiber composites

Traditional epoxy resin materials are widely used in coatings, composite materials, electronic packaging materials, etc. They are usually made of unsustainable fossil resources and cannot be recycled under mild conditions. Degradable thermosetting resins with dynamic covalent structure provide a potential solution to this conflict. In this paper, using biomass energy vanillin, m-xylylenediamine and 1, 6-hexanediamine as raw materials, two dynamic imine bond curing agents were synthesized, and then cured with DGEBA to prepare two bio-based imine epoxy vitrimers. The thermal and mechanical properties of two imine epoxy vitrimers were studied and compared in detail. Results showed that the two types of polymers exhibit excellent thermal stability and solvent resistance. At the same time, the tensile strength, modulus and elongation at break were comparable to or even better than those of conventional bisphenol A epoxy resin. In addition, due to the hydrolysis of the dynamic imine bonds, vitrimers had degradable characteristic, and its degradation also exhibited temperature, solvent and acidity dependence. More importantly, the recyclable carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites made of these two vitrimers could be completely degraded under weak acid conditions, and the nondestructive recycling of carbon fiber composites could be realized. We envision that this vitrimers with simple process, excellent comprehensive properties and degradability will make it a potential candidate for applications in sustainable structural materials.