From Waste to Value: Converting Epoxy Thermosets into Vitrimers for aSustainable Circular Economy

In this study we present a method to transform epoxy waste into recyclable vitrimers using zincacetate as a catalyst. These vitrimers demonstrate significantly faster relaxation times (۳ min) forefficient recycling and improved mechanical properties after reprocessing, including enhanced tensilestrength (۲۵%), Young's modulus (۵۰%), and cross-linking density (۱۴۰%). This breakthroughenables recycled materials to surpass the performance of virgin epoxies. Our findings promote aclosed-loop system for epoxy thermosets, reducing waste and fostering a circular economy. Thistechnology has the potential to revolutionize various industries by minimizing environmental impactand maximizing resource efficiency.

کلیدواژه ها:

Circular Economy ، Vitrimerization ، Epoxy ، Relaxation Time ، Recyclable Thermosets