Abstract
Thermosets are known to be very reliable polymeric materials for high-performance and light-weight applications, due to their retained dimensional stability, chemical inertia and rigidity over a broad range of temperatures. However, once fully cured, they cannot be easily reshaped or reprocessed, thus leaving still unsolved the issues of recycling and the lack of technological flexibility. Vitrimers, introduced by Leibler et al. in 2011, are a valiant step in the direction of bridging the chasm between thermoplastics and thermosets. Owing to their dynamic covalent networks, they can retain mechanical stability and solvent resistance, but can also flow on demand upon heating. More generally, the family of Covalent Adaptable Networks (CANs) is gleaming with astounding potential, thanks to the huge variety of chemistries that may enable bond exchange. Arising from this signature feature, intriguing properties such as self-healing, recyclability and weldability may expand the horizons for thermosets in terms of improved life-span, sustainability and overall enhanced functionality and versatility. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the most promising studies featuring CANs and vitrimers specifically, with particular regard for their industrial applications. Investigations into composites and sustainable vitrimers from epoxy-based and elastomeric networks are covered in detail.
Highlights
It is common knowledge that polymeric materials break down into two rather broad and diverse major classes: thermoplastics and thermosets
Our work offers a comprehensive overview of Covalent Adaptable Networks (CANs) as a potent and fresh resource in polymer science and engineering
With the increasing concern for environmental issues and hazardous chemical waste, the possibility of extending the service of thermosetting polymers via self-healing and recycling is undoubtedly intriguing. This option is viable for applications in the aerospace, automotive, electronics and biomedical sectors, as far as composites, sustainable thermosets from bio-renewable sources, epoxies, elastomers and polyurethanes are concerned
Summary
It is common knowledge that polymeric materials break down into two rather broad and diverse major classes: thermoplastics and thermosets. Thermosets are insoluble and unable to flow, due to their cross-linked network Once their shape is set through the so-called curing process, they are further thermally unprocessable and only swell in a good solvent, often with negligible traces of residual dangling chains being eluted away. This characteristic is advantageous, as it imparts attractive properties such as an extended range of thermo-mechanical stability and chemical, wear and creep resistance [5]. To the best of our knowledge, such a pragmatic slant with emphasis on a vast and organic collection of industrially-relevant and sustainable vitrimeric materials has not been proposed yet
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