Acid-Cleavable Aromatic Polymers for the Fabrication of Closed-Loop Recyclable Plastics with High Mechanical Strength and Excellent Chemical Resistance

Although closed-loop recycling of dynamic covalent bond-based plastics does not require catalysts, their mechanical strength and chemical stability remain a major concern. In this study, closed-loop recyclable poly(aryl imine) (PAI) plastics with high mechanical strength and excellent chemical resistance are fabricated by copolymerizing aromatic amines and aromatic aldehydes through dynamic imine bonds. The resulting PAI plastic with a tensile strength of 58.2 MPa exhibits excellent chemical resistance and mechanical stability in acidic and basic aqueous solutions and various organic solvents. The PAI plastics can be depolymerized in a mixed solvent of tetrahydrofuran (THF)/HCl aqueous solution through the dissociation of imine bonds, and the monomers can be facilely recovered with high purity and isolated yields due to the solubility difference between the aromatic amines and aromatic aldehydes in selective solvents. The efficient closed-loop recycling of the PAI plastic can also be realized through monomer conversion because the hydrolysis of the aromatic aldehydes generates aromatic amines. The recovered monomers can be used to re-fabricate original PAI plastics. This PAI plastic can be selectively recovered from complicated mixed polymer waste streams due to the mild depolymerization conditions of the PAI plastic and its high stability in most organic solvents.     

Closed-Loop Recycling of Vinylogous Urethane Vitrimers

Devising energy-efficient strategies for the depolymerization of plastics and the recovery of their structural components in high yield and purity is key to a circular plastics economy. Here, we report a case study in which we demonstrate that vinylogous urethane ( VU ) vitrimers synthesized from bis-polyethylene glycol acetoacetates ( aPEG ) and tris(2-aminoethyl)amine can be degraded by water at moderate temperature with almost quantitative recovery (≈98 %) of aPEG . The rate of depolymerization can be controlled by the temperature, amount of water, molecular weight of aPEG , and composition of the starting material. These last two parameters also allow one to tailor the mechanical properties of the final materials, and this was used to access soft, tough, and brittle vitrimers, respectively. The straightforward preparation and depolymerization of the aPEG -based VU vitrimers are interesting elements for the design of polymer materials with enhanced closed-loop recycling characteristics.     

A Simple,Selective, and General Catalyst for Ring Closing Depolymerization of Polyesters and Polycarbonates for Chemical Recycling

The ability to efficiently and selectively process mixed polymer waste is important to address the growing plastic waste problem. Herein, we report that the combination of ZnCl₂ and an additive amount of poly(ethylene glycol) under vacuum can readily and selectively depolymerize polyesters and polycarbonates with high ceiling temperatures (T_c>200 °C) back to their constitute monomers. Mechanistic experiments implicate a random chain scission mechanism and a catalyst structure containing one equivalent of ZnCl₂ per ethylene glycol repeat unit in the poly(ethylene glycol). In addition to being general for a wide variety of polyesters and polycarbonates, the catalyst system could selectively depolymerize a polyester in the presence of other commodity plastics, demonstrating how reactive distillation using the ZnCl₂/PEG600 catalyst system can be used to separate mixed plastic waste.     

Chemical Degradation of Amine-cured DGEBA Epoxy Resin in Supercritical 1-Propanol for Recycling Carbon Fiber from Composites

Chemical degradation of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A（DGEBA） epoxy resin cured with an aliphatic amine in supercritical 1-propanol was investigated under different reaction temperature and time. The combination of GC-MS and LC-MS proved that the epoxy resin was decomposed to five main products including phenol, 4-isopropylphenol, 4-isopropenylphenol, bisphenol A, and 4,4’-（cyclopropane-1,1-diyl）diphenol. The 13C-NMR results verified the chemical structures of the degradation products. The change of the products′ yield with time was evaluated by an effective means of HPLC. In addition, the GPC analysis confirmed the formation of soluble low molecular weight clusters during the degradation reaction. A possible free-radical reaction mechanism was proposed for chemical depolymerization of the epoxy resin in supercritical 1-propanol. After the homolytic cleavage of the aromatic ether linkages, the resulting bisphenol A biradical either produced 4,4’-（cyclopropane-1,1-diyl）diphenol after intramolecular rearrangement or generated bisphenol A after capturing hydrogen from 1-propanol.     

碳纤维自焊接骨架结构的形成及其复合材料性能研究

报道了一种将短切碳纤维(CF)自发焊接成三维网络结构的新方法.研究发现,尼龙6(PA6)与CF具有较强的相互作用,SEM照片及储能模量高温平台表明,添加少量PA6能够在PS基体中形成耐高温的CFPA6自焊接骨架结构,PA6用量越多,高温储能模量越高,自焊接骨架结构强度越大.研究证明,这种自焊接骨架结构能够大幅度提高PS/CF复合体系的热变形温度,碳纤维具有优异的导电导热性能,碳纤维骨架结构能够降低导电临界浓度,增强面内导热系数.进一步分析表明,PA6在碳纤维表面定向聚集是一个动力学过程,CF-PA6自焊接骨架强度与PA6黏附率NPA6呈线性关系;扩大PA6与PS的黏度差,延长热压时间均有利于提高NPA6,进而大幅提高网络结构强度.     

超临界正丁醇对回收碳纤维复合材料的降解及表征

采用响应面分析方法设计超临界正丁醇降解废弃的碳纤维/环氧树脂(CF/EP)复合材料降解实验,用以回收碳纤维.通过Design-Expert V8.0建立环氧树脂降解率和工艺参数之间的数学模型,获得了最优工艺参数;通过图形优化研究了工艺参数对环氧树脂基体降解率的影响规律;通过场发射电子扫描显微镜、原子力显微镜、X射线光电子能谱仪、显微共焦激光拉曼光谱仪及单丝拉伸等分析最优工艺参数下回收的碳纤维的表面形貌、表面化学、石墨化程度及力学性能.结果表明,建立的数学模型拟合误差范围为±5.5%,实现了回收工艺参数的预估;单因素对环氧树脂基体降解率的影响程度为:反应温度保温时间添加剂浓度正丁醇含量;最优工艺参数为:反应温度330℃,保温时间60 min,添加剂浓度0.0538 mol/L,投料比0.024g/mL.回收的碳纤维表面无残留树脂,没有发生明显的石墨化,且表面平均粗糙度与原碳纤维相近;与原始碳纤维相比,回收的碳纤维的拉伸强度约为原碳纤维的93.58%,杨氏模量约为原碳纤维的94.87%.     

Comparison of the Characteristics of Recycled Carbon Fibers/Polymer Composites by Different Recycling Techniques

In this study, three recycling methods, namely, mechanical grinding, steam pyrolysis, and the supercritical solvent process, which are used to acquire recycled carbon fibers (RCFs), were compared for their application in synthesizing polymer-matrix composites. RCF-reinforced polyethylene (PE) composites were prepared to compare the mechanical properties of the composites generated using the three recycling methods. The PE/RCF composites exhibited 1.5 times higher mechanical strength than the RCF-reinforced PE composites, probably because of the surface oxidation effects during the recycling processes that consequently enhanced interfacial forces between the RCF and the matrix. Further, the steam pyrolysis process showed the highest energy efficiency and can thus be applied on a large production scale in domestic recycled CF markets.     

Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy of DNA-Based Reversible Polymer Bridges: Surface Robustness and Homogeneity

Single-molecule force spectroscopy, as implemented in an atomic force microscope, provides a rarely used method by which to monitor dynamic processes that occur near surfaces. Here, a methodology is presented and characterized that facilitates the study of polymer bridging across nanometer-sized gaps. The model system employed is that of DNA-based reversible polymers, and an automated procedure is introduced that allows the AFM tip–surface contact point to be automatically determined, and the distance d between opposing surfaces to be actively controlled. Using this methodology, the importance of several experimental parameters was systematically studied, e.g. the frequency of repeated tip/surface contacts, the area of the substrate surface sampled by the AFM, and the use of multiple AFM tips and substrates. Experiments revealed the surfaces to be robust throughout pulling experiments, so that multiple touches and pulls could be carried out on a single spot with no measurable affect on the results. Differences in observed bridging probabilities were observed, both on different spots on the same surface and, more dramatically, from one day to another. Data normalization via a reference measurement allows data from multiple days to be directly compared.     

Innovative Green Chemistry Approach to Synthesis of Sn2+-Metal Complex and Design of Polymer Composites with Small Optical Band Gaps

In this work, the green method was used to synthesize Sn²⁺-metal complex by polyphenols (PPHs) of black tea (BT). The formation of Sn²⁺-PPHs metal complex was confirmed through UV-Vis and FTIR methods. The FTIR method shows that BT contains NH and OH functional groups, conjugated double bonds, and PPHs which are important to create the Sn²⁺-metal complexes. The synthesized Sn²⁺-PPHs metal complex was used successfully to decrease the optical energy band gap of PVA polymer. XRD method showed that the amorphous phase increased with increasing the metal complexes. The FTIR and XRD analysis show the complex formation between Sn²⁺-PPHs metal complex and PVA polymer. The enhancement in the optical properties of PVA was evidenced via UV-visible spectroscopy method. When Sn²⁺-PPHs metal complex was loaded to PVA, the refractive index and dielectric constant were improved. In addition, the absorption edge was also decreased to lower photon. The optical energy band gap decreases from 6.4 to 1.8 eV for PVAloaded with 30% (v/v) Sn²⁺-PPHs metal complex. The variations of dielectric constant versus wavelength of photon are examined to measure localized charge density (N/m*) and high frequency dielectric constant. By increasing Sn²⁺-PPHs metal complex, the N/m* are improved from 3.65 × 10⁵⁵ to 13.38 × 10⁵⁵ m⁻³ Kg⁻¹. The oscillator dispersion energy (E_d) and average oscillator energy (E_o) are measured. The electronic transition natures in composite films are determined based on the Tauc’s method, whereas close examinations of the dielectric loss parameter are also held to measure the energy band gap.