Self-healing, reprocessable, degradable, thermadapt shape memory multifunctional polymers based on dynamic imine bonds and their application in nondestructively recyclable carbon fiber composites

• The epoxy polymers named EPCN and EPCN 4 -CF composites based on dynamic imine bonds were successfully prepared. • The EPCN-4 epoxy polymer with dynamic imine bonds exhibited excellent self-healing and reprocessable properties. • Both EPCN-4 epoxy polymer and EPCN 4 -CF composites combined excellent degradability in mild acidic conditions. • The surface morphology and chemical structure of the recycled CFs from EPCN 4 -CF were not changed. Traditional epoxy thermosets have been extensively used in many fields, including the field of carbon fiber composite materials, which is favored by a large number of researchers. But they usually cannot be recycled under mild conditions. To make matters worse, the material loses its usefulness once it is damaged. Self-healing and degradable thermosetting resins with dynamic covalent bonds offer a potential solution to this conflict. In this paper, a series of epoxy polymers named EPCN based on dynamic imine bonds were easily prepared by a one-pot method using inexpensive industrial materials terephthalaldehyde and common bisphenol A diglycidyl ether as raw materials, which were cured by D230. The results show that the materials exhibit certain self-healing, reprocessability and thermadapt shape memory properties due to the dynamic properties of the imine bonds. Moreover, EPCN epoxy polymers can be degraded due to the hydrolysis of dynamic imine bonds, and their degradation exhibit temperature and acidity dependence. More importantly, the recyclable carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites prepared with EPCN-4 as the resin matrix can be completely degraded under weak acid conditions, leading to the ready and non-destructive recycling of its carbon fiber composite. We envision this reprocessable and degradable carbon fiber-reinforced composite material with cheap raw materials, simple process, and suitable for mass production will make it a potential candidate for sustainable structural material applications.