Facile preparation of reprocessable and degradable phenolic resin based on dynamic acetal motifs

Phenolic resins with irreversible cross-links structure make them difficult to degrade and recycle. It is an emerging trend for phenolic resins thermoset to develop a rapid and facile closed-loop recycling approach. Herein, the degradable and reprocessable phenolic thermosets (PRTs) based on reversible acetal bonds were synthesized by tri(ethylene glycol) divinyl ether (TEGDVE) and linear phenolic resin through one-step “click” addition reaction. By employing the chain mobility induced by dynamic weak acetal motifs and linear TEGDVE in PRTs, the mechanical strengths could be rationally adjusted, and more moderate reprocessing and degradation conditions were achieved. Accordingly, the flexible structure units containing weak reversible acetal linkages were expected to accelerate the mobility of the chain segments and decrease the reprocessing temperature, while the linear phenolic structure afforded the high mechanical strength. Remarkedly, a champion degradation rate of 121.8 mg·mL−1·h−1 was achieved under acid condition by adjusting the ratio of flexible chains consisting of dynamic acetal bonds. In addition, compared with pristine PRTs, regenerative one maintained 93.41% of elongation at break. This work may shed a light for realizing degradable and reprocessable dynamic network materials with high efficiency.