Dynamic Ester-Enabled Recyclable Epoxy Adhesives from Glucose and Soybean Oil: Storage-Stable, High-Adhesion, and On-Demand Degradable

We report the first high-performance recyclable adhesive synthesized from renewable glucose and epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) via dynamic β-hydroxy ester bond engineering without a catalyst and solvent. This strategy eliminates the need for complex chemical modifications typically required in bio-epoxy systems, offering a scalable and sustainable alternative. This bio-based epoxy system combines excellent storage stability (>34 days in a viscous flow state) with fast curing at 140–170 °C, addressing a key trade-off in the adhesive design. Partially cured resin demonstrates a strong tunable underwater adhesion (up to 2.2 MPa, regulated by viscosity), while fully cured resin achieves remarkable optical transparency and superior glass adhesion (>30.8 MPa)─outperforming commercial counterparts. Critically, the adhesive enables rapid debonding at moderate temperatures (e.g., 120 °C) and degrades via transesterification, facilitating efficient recycling and reusability. Leveraging abundant, low-cost renewable feedstocks and a scalable solvent-free manufacturing process, this adhesive offers a sustainable alternative for industrial applications, aligning with global trends toward circular economy.