Mechanically Robust, Recyclable, and Self-Healing Polyimine Networks

Biomimetic Nanostructured Polyimine Aerogels with Graded Porosity, Flame Resistance, Intrinsic Superhydrophobicity, and Closed-Loop Recovery

Polymer aerogels, with their porous and lightweight features, excel in applications such as energy storage, absorption, and thermal insulation, making them a sought-after new material. However, the covalent cross-linking networks of current polymer aerogels result in unsustainable manufacturing and processing practices, persistently depleting our finite natural resources and causing significant global environmental impacts. Herein, we have constructed a high-performance dynamic covalent cross-linking aerogel network using biobased materials, with its structure and green sustainability akin to those of plants in nature. Abundant reversible cross-linking points endow the aerogel with ultrafast degradation capabilities, enabling allow for closed-loop chemical monomer recovery and reprocessing. Furthermore, utilizing the highly active reversible network, net-zero emission material reuse and reprocessing can be achieved. Additionally, the controlled dynamic aerogel network features a multilevel roughness nanostructured surface similar to lotus leaf and a biomimetic pore structure, contributing to significant anisotropy. The distinctive structure and composition endow the dynamic aerogel with high compressive strength (2.2 MPa) vertically, low thermal conductivity (0.0257 W/(m·K)) horizontally, and outstanding fire resistance (LOI is as high as 36%). Notably, the aerogel demonstrates the highest hydrophobicity among polyimine materials, with a contact angle of 154°. Furthermore, those dynamic aerogels have excellent performance in a variety of potential applications such as oil-water separation, directional transport, and phase change energy storage, and it is anticipated that these applications will greatly benefit from systematic upgrades in recyclability and reprocessing.

Soft-Rigid Construction of Mechanically Robust, Thermally Stable, and Self-Healing Polyimine Networks with Strongly Recyclable Adhesion

Reversible and recyclable thermosets have garnered increasing attention for their smart functionality and sustainability. However, they still face challenges in balancing comprehensive performance and dynamic features. Herein, silicon (Si)─oxygen (O) and imidazole units covalent bonds are coupled to generate a new class of bio-polyimines (Bio-Si-PABZs), to endow them with high performance and excellent reprocessing capability and acid-degradability. By tailoring the molar content of diamines, this Bio-Si-PABZs displayed both a markedly high glass transition temperature (162 °C) and a high char yield at 800 °C in an oxygen atmosphere (73.1%). These Bio-Si-PABZs with their favorable properties outperformed various previously reported polyimines and competed effectively with commercial fossil-based polycarbonate. Moreover, the scratch (≈10 µm) on the surface of samples can be self-healing within only 2 min, and an effective "Bird Nest"-to-"Torch" recycling can also be achieved through free amines solution. Most importantly, a bio-based siloxane adhesive derived from the intermediate Bio-Si-PABZ-1 by acidic degradation demonstrated broad and robust adhesion in various substrates, with values reaching up to ≈3.5 MPa. For the first time, this study lays the scientific groundwork for designing robust and recyclable polyimine thermosets with Si─O and imidazole units, as well as converting plastic wastes into thermal-reversibility and renewable adhesives.

Exploring the Adaptability of 4D Printed Shape Memory Polymer Featuring Dynamic Covalent Bonds

4D printing (4DP) of high-performance shape memory polymers (SMPs), particularly using digital light processing (DLP), has garnered intense global attention due to its capability for rapid and high-precision fabrication of complex configurations, meeting diverse application requirements. However, the development of high-performance dynamic shape memory polymers (DSMPs) for DLP printing remains a significant challenge due to the inherent incompatibilities between the photopolymerization process and the curing/polymerization of high-strength polymers. Here, a mechanically robust DSMP compatible is developed with DLP printing, which incorporates dynamic covalent bonds of imine linking polyimide rigid segments, exhibiting remarkable mechanical performance (tensile strength ≈41.7 MPa, modulus ≈1.63 GPa) and thermal stability (Tg ∼ 113 °C, Td ∼ 208 °C). More importantly, benefiting from the solid-state plasticity conferred by dynamic covalent bonds, 4D printed structures demonstrate rapid network adaptiveness, enabling effortless realization of reconfiguration, self-healing, and recycling. Meanwhile, the extensive π-π conjugated structures bestow DSMP with an intrinsic photothermal effect, allowing controllable morphing of the 4D configuration through dual-mode triggering. This work not only greatly enriches the application scope of high-performance personalized configurations but also provides a reliable approach to addressing environmental pollution and energy crises.

Strong yet Tough Catalyst-Free Transesterification Vitrimer with Excellent Fire-Retardancy, Durability, and Closed-Loop Recyclability

Despite great advances in vitrimer, it remains highly challenging to achieve a property portfolio of excellent mechanical properties, desired durability, and high fire safety. Thus, a catalyst-free, closed-loop recyclable transesterification vitrimer (TPN1.50) with superior mechanical properties, durability, and fire retardancy is developed by introducing a rationally designed tertiary amine/phosphorus-containing reactive oligomer (TPN) into epoxy resin (EP). Because of strong covalent interactions between TPN and EP and its linear oligomer structure, as-prepared TPN1.50 achieves a tensile strength of 86.2 MPa and a toughness of 6.8 MJ m-3, superior to previous vitrimer counterparts. TPN1.50 containing 1.50 wt% phosphorus shows desirable fire retardancy, including a limiting oxygen index of 35.2% and a vertical burning (UL-94) V-0 classification. TPN1.50 features great durability and can maintain its structure integrity in 1 M HCl or NaOH solution for 100 days. This is because the tertiary amines are anchored within the cross-linked network and blocked by rigid P-containing groups, thus effectively suppressing the transesterification. Owing to its good chemical recovery, TPN1.50 can be used as a promising resin for creating recyclable carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites. This work offers a promising integrated method for creating robust durable fire-safe vitrimers which facilitate the sustainable development of high-performance polymer composites.

High toughness, healable, self-cleaning polydimethylsiloxane elastomers with "rigid-while-flexible" mutual network structure

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomers with high mechanical and healing properties are developed as smart materials for electrical power systems and electronic devices to address electrical or mechanical damage. However, the challenge is to reconcile the conflicting molecular mechanisms of mechanical and healing properties in the development of PDMS elastomers. This study adopts the "rigid-while-flexible" mutual network structure by copolymerizing the rigid polyimide (PI) with flexible segments with dynamic reversible crosslinking designed on the PDMS backbones. This elastomer (designated PSiPI) exhibits high toughness, tensile strength and elongation at break, as well as excellent healing efficiency and recyclability. Moreover, the PSiPI elastomer also exhibits good insulation and corona damage healing properties. Taking advantage of the recyclability and healing properties of PSiPI elastomers, healable superhydrophobic coatings with contact angles greater than 150° have been prepared by compositing PSiPI elastomers with SiO2. Likewise, combining the elastomer with conductive materials can create a healing flexible conductor. This "rigid-while-flexible" design approach provides important inspiration for the development of high-performance, sustainable and environmentally friendly PDMS elastomers for electrical and electronic applications.

Development of Fluorenyl-Based Copolyimines with Adjustable Mechanical Properties, Recyclability and Friction Resistance

Dynamic polyimines are a class of fascinating dynamic polymers with recyclability and reparability owing to their reversible Schiff-base reactions. However, balancing the dynamic properties and mechanical strength of dynamic polyimines presents a major challenge due to the dissociative and associative nature of the imine bonds. Herein, we introduced bulky fluorene groups and polyether amine into the skeleton of polyimine networks to achieve a tradeoff in comprehensive properties. The resulting dynamic polyimines with fluorene groups (Cardo-DPIs) were successfully synthesized by combining the rigid diamine 9,9-bis(4-aminophenyl)fluorene and the flexible polyether amine, demonstrating a high tensile strength of 64.7 MPa. Additionally, Cardo-DPIs films with more content of rigid fluorene groups exhibited higher water resistance, glass transition temperature and wear-resisting ability. Moreover, the Cardo-DPIs films not only efficiently underwent thermal reshaping, but also exhibited excellent self-healing capabilities and chemical degradation in acidic solutions. Furthermore, the resulting films can achieve fully closed-loop recovery by free amine solution for 2 h at room temperature. This study broadens the scope of dynamic polyimine materials and promotes the balanced development of their functional and mechanical properties.

Comparing Surface and Bulk Curing Processes of an Epoxy Vitrimer

We used atomic force microscopy-based infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR) and nanomechanical mapping (AFM-NM) to image the surface of a vitrimer, specifically dicarboxylic acid-cured diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA), to assess the curing process of a surface layer and compared this to the process in the bulk. We identified the β-hydroxy esters with various functionalities that are the key to form the cross-links for a system, including difunctional DGEBA and carboxylic acids. The IR peaks of the carbonyl group in generated ester groups are distinguished clearly from those in acids, allowing us to quantitatively assess the curing process at the surface and in the bulk. The initial curing at the surface exhibits a gradual cross-linking and is found to be lower than a rapid cross-linking in the bulk due to a relatively lower concentration of the β-hydroxy esters with high functionalities. This curing process leads to a smaller chemically and mechanically heterogeneous nanostructure at the surface relative to the bulk. After multiple reprocessings, a substantial number of esters lacking dynamic exchange capability form in the bulk, which decrease the flowability and reprocessability of the vitrimers and therefore the mechanical properties.

Vitrimer Nanocomposites for Highly Thermal Conducting Materials with Sustainability

Vitrimers, as dynamic covalent network polymers, represent a groundbreaking advancement in materials science. They excel in their applications, such as advanced thermal-conductivity composite materials, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional polymers. The incorporation of vitrimers into composite fillers enhances alignment and heat passway broadly, resulting in superior thermal conductivity compared to conventional thermosetting polymers. Their dynamic exchange reactions enable straightforward reprocessing, fostering the easy reuse of damaged composite materials and opening possibilities for recycling both matrix and filler components. We review an overview of the present advancements in utilizing vitrimers for highly thermally conductive composite materials.