Recycling and Self-Healing of Polybenzoxazines with Dynamic Sulfide Linkages

Sulfur Radical Transfer and Coupling Reaction to Benzoxazine Groups: A New Reaction Route for Preparation of Polymeric Materials Using Elemental Sulfur as a Feedstock

A novel approach to preparing polymeric materials using elemental sulfur as a feedstock through the newly developed sulfur radical transfer and coupling (SRTC) reaction is reported herein. Polybenzoxazines with high sulfur contents are prepared using the SRTC reaction with benzoxazine compounds as the radical acceptors. The reactions between elemental sulfur and benzoxazine rings are analyzed with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), ¹ H NMR, and ¹³ C DEPT spectroscopies to elucidate the SRTC reaction mechanism. Moreover, the prepared polybenzoxazine-sulfur hybrid materials show attractive repairing properties based on the dynamic S-S linkages. An effective reaction mechanism and the prepared repairable sulfur-possessing polymeric materials are demonstrated.

Sustainable inverse-vulcanised sulfur polymers

We demonstrate two renewable crosslinkers that can stabilise sustainable high sulfur content polymers, via inverse-vulcanisation. With increasing levels of sulfur produced as a waste byproduct from hydrodesulfurisation of crude oil and gas, the need to find a method to utilise this abundant feedstock is pressing. The resulting sulfur copolymers can be synthesised relatively quickly, using a one-pot solvent free method, producing polymeric materials that are shape-persistent solids at room temperature and compare well to other inverse vulcanised polymers. The physical properties of these high sulfur polymeric materials, coupled with the ability to produce them sustainably, allow broad potential utility.

We demonstrate two renewable crosslinkers that can stabilise sustainable high sulfur content polymers, via inverse-vulcanisation.

Polysiloxane-based two-photon fluorescent elastomers with superior mechanical and self-healing properties and their application in bioimaging

The first report of the synthesis of novel self-healing elastomers possessing a dynamic dual cross-linked network and exhibiting a unique two-photon fluorescence, which show potential for application in bioimaging.

Main-chain benzoxazine precursor block copolymers

A novel strategy for one-pot preparation of block copolymers of benzoxazine precursors with polyetheramines is described.

Combining benzoxazine and ketene chemistries for self-healing of high performance thermoset surfaces

The use of oxoketene chemistry for self-healable polybenzoxazines is described.