화학공학소재연구정보센터
Macromolecules, Vol.48, No.2, 316-322, 2015
Sonochemical Transformation of Epoxy-Amine Thermoset into Soluble and Reusable Polymers
The degradation and reuse of epoxy thermosets have significant impact on the environments. We report that an epoxyamine thermoset embedded with DielsAlder (DA) bonds was transformed into soluble polymers via sonochemistry under mild temperature (ca. 20 degrees C) for the first time. Sonication could effectively induce the position-oriented cleavage of DA bonds (i.e., retro-DA) of the fully swelled epoxy thermoset in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), leading to the soluble polymers. Of importance, such sonochemical process could be regulated on demand via switching on-and-off of the sonication. The obtained soluble polymers could be recured to form epoxyamine thermosets via DA reaction. This sonochemical method might provide an unprecedented and efficient way to the controlled degradation and recycling of the epoxy thermosets containing the dynamic covalent bonds likes DA groups.