State Key Lab for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China.
School of Chemistry, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China.
Macromol Rapid Commun. 2023 May;44(10):e2200972. doi: 10.1002/marc.202200972. Epub 2023 Mar 28.
Polymer blending is an efficient way to obtain extraordinary polymeric materials. However, once permanently cross-linked thermosets are involved in blending, there are challenges in designing and optimizing the structures and interfacial compatibility of blends. Vitrimer with dynamic covalent polymer networks provides an innovative opportunity for blending thermoplastics and thermosets. Herein, a reactive blending strategy is proposed to develop thermoplastic-thermoset blend with enhanced compatibility on the basis of dynamic covalent chemistry. Specifically, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polymerized epoxy vitrimer can be directly melt blended to obtain tough and thermostable blends with desirable microstructures and interfacial interaction. Bond exchange facilitates the grafting of PBT and epoxy vitrimer chains, thus enhancing the interfacial compatibility and thermal stability of blends. The obtained blend balances the strength and stretchability of PBT and epoxy vitrimer, resulting in enhanced toughness. This work offers a new way of designing and fabricating new polymeric materials by blending thermoplastics and thermosets. It also suggests a facile direction towards upcycling thermoplastics and thermosets.
聚合物共混是获得特殊聚合物材料的有效方法。然而，一旦涉及到永久性交联的热固性塑料的共混，在设计和优化共混物的结构和界面相容性方面就会面临挑战。具有动态共价聚合物网络的热塑性弹性体为热塑性塑料和热固性塑料的共混提供了一个创新的机会。在此，提出了一种基于动态共价化学的反应性共混策略，以开发具有增强相容性的热塑性-热固性共混物。具体来说，聚对苯二甲酸丁二醇酯（PBT）和聚合的环氧树脂热塑性弹性体可以直接熔融共混，以获得具有理想微观结构和界面相互作用的坚韧和热稳定的共混物。键交换促进了 PBT 和环氧树脂热塑性弹性体链的接枝，从而提高了共混物的界面相容性和热稳定性。所得到的共混物平衡了 PBT 和环氧树脂热塑性弹性体的强度和拉伸性，从而提高了韧性。这项工作为通过共混热塑性塑料和热固性塑料来设计和制造新型聚合物材料提供了一种新方法。它还为热塑性塑料和热固性塑料的回收利用提供了一个简单的方向。
