Vitrimerization as a bridge of chemical and mechanical recycling

Abstract

Polymeric materials are the largest mass-produced synthetic consumer products in the world, which are the materials of choice for incredibly diverse applications including packaging, transportation, construction, biomedical devices, and energy storage. However, this came with the cost of environmental pollution by polymeric wastes due to their long decomposition lifetime. Different procedures have been proposed to combat this challenge. One of the most economical and efficient options is the recycling of polymer wastes for their reuse. In general, both mechanical and chemical methods have been used for recycling. Each method possesses its own advantages and disadvantages. In recent years, researchers have developed a more effective and practical solution to be utilized in a wide range of polymer materials following a “design to recycle” concept using dynamic chemical bonds. Vitrimerization is a promising concept which enables recyclability of thermosets and offers reprocessability yet properties stability of thermoplastics through scalable processes. By introducing dynamics bonds, vitrimerization allows for thermoset wastes processing with commercial thermoplastic processing machinery as well as improving the properties of thermoplastics. Vitrimerization is known as a bridge between mechanical and chemical recycling methods which creates better recycling, reuse, and (re)processability and possibly less need for sorting of post-consumer polymer products. In this review, recycling methods with focus on vitrimerization strategies to design sustainable polymeric materials toward a circular economy are discussed.