Biobased, recyclable, and multi-functional high-performance composites for electromagnetic interference shielding

High-performance fiber-reinforced thermoset composites (FRTCs) are highly demanded in modern society but are challenged because they depend on nonrenewable fossil-based feedstocks, are hard to recycle after service, and lack advanced functions. Here, we report a methodology to fabricate sustainable, recyclable, high-performance, and multifunctional FRTCs from renewable feedstocks such as vanillin, glycerol triglycidyl ether, 1,10-diaminodecane, and basalt fiber. We designed a mussel-inspired approach to prepare high conductive basalt fiber (CBF), and combined the CBF with a fully biobased covalent adaptable network (CAN) based on dynamic imine bonds to produce the composites i.e., CAN/CBF laminar composites through a solvent-free method. The CAN/CBF composites showed highly reinforced mechanical properties and multiple functionalities including electromagnetic interference shielding, shape memory and self-adhesion characters through combination in the advantages and functions of both CAN and CBF. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the CAN matrix and the reinforced CBF can be recycled separately and can be further reformed to the CAN/CBF composites due to the dynamic nature of the CAN matrix. Our study thus provides an urgently applicable approach for advanced manufacturing toward the green and circular advanced composites economy.