Hydroxylated Polymers for Thermoset Reprocessing Through Hydrolysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermoset polymers are difficult to recycle due to their high chemical crosslinks, leading to significant waste accumulation as they are often incinerated or landfilled, with limited opportunities for reprocessing.
Innovation Solution
Development of functional oligomers and polymers derived from hydrolyzing thermosetting polymers, incorporating hydroxyl groups and alkene functionalities, enabling solubility in solvents and facilitating reprocessing through hydrolysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If thermoset polymers are used to achieve high chemical crosslinks and desirable properties (chemical/thermal resistance, tensile strength), then the strength and stability are improved, but the difficulty of reprocessing and degradation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the thermoset polymer network into degradable segments by incorporating cleavable chemical bonds (such as ester, amide, or disulfide bonds) within the polymer chains. This allows the material to be segmented into smaller soluble fragments upon degradation while maintaining the crosslinked network structure during use, thus enabling reprocessing without compromising initial strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the thermoset by incorporating monomers with specific functional groups that can undergo degradation reactions. By adjusting the composition and crosslink density, the material transforms from an irreversibly crosslinked state to a degradable state, enabling reprocessing while maintaining desirable mechanical properties during service.
2Stability of the object's composition
If thermoset polymers are used to achieve high chemical crosslinks, then the chemical/thermal resistance is improved, but the environmental harm increases due to incineration and landfill
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the previously harmful permanent crosslinked structure into a beneficial degradable structure by incorporating cleavable bonds. The same crosslinking that provides chemical resistance during use now enables controlled degradation into soluble fragments, transforming waste accumulation into a reprocessable material stream that can be upcycled or disposed of more sustainably.
3Strength
If commercially important high-performance thermosets are used, then the mechanical properties are improved, but the adaptability for conversion into vitrimers decreases due to lack of appropriate bonding motifs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by incorporating degradable bonding motifs (ester, amide, disulfide bonds) during the initial thermoset synthesis. This pre-installation of cleavable bonds enables subsequent conversion to vitrimers or other reprocessable forms without requiring structural modifications, thus maintaining mechanical performance while enabling future adaptability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The hydroxylated polymers and their conjugates offer a new class of materials that are low-cost, densely hydroxylated, and alkene-functionalized, allowing for repurposing and upcycling with improved mechanical and stability properties, and can be crosslinked for various applications.
Implementation Method 1
hydroxylated polymers prepared by hydrolyzing a copolymer prepared by a method comprising polymerizing
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes functional oligomers or functional polymers. The functional oligomers or functional polymers may contain functional groups, e.g., —OH and/or —CHO. The functional oligomers or functional polymers may be obtained from hydrolyzing certain copolymers and may be soluble in commercially available solvents. The copolymers may be thermosetting polymers. The functional oligomers and functional polymers may be useful for recycling thermosetting polymers and may be useful as starting materials for preparing additional oligomers or polymers.