Closed-loop recycling of sulfur-rich polymers with tunable properties spanning thermoplastics, elastomers, and vitrimers

Closed-loop recycling of sulfur-rich polymers with tunable properties spanning thermoplastics, elastomers, and vitrimers

08 April 2024 | Jin-Zhuo Zhao, Tian-Jun Yue, Bai-Hao Ren, Xiao-Bing Lu & Wei-Min Ren
A universal synthetic strategy for producing polytrithiocarbonates (PTCs), a class of sulfur-rich polymers, is reported through the polycondensation of dithiols and dimethyl trithiocarbonate (DMTC). This method enables the synthesis of PTCs with diverse structures, offering a versatile platform for constructing thermoplastics, elastomers, and vitrimers. The PTCs can be depolymerized via solvolysis into monomers, which can be repolymerized to virgin polymers without altering their properties. The study highlights the potential of PTCs for closed-loop recycling, as they can be chemically recycled through reverse transesterification, allowing for the recovery of monomers with high efficiency. The PTCs exhibit excellent thermal, mechanical, and optical properties, and some contain disulfide bonds, enabling self-healing and dynamic network behaviors. The research demonstrates the synthesis of various PTCs with tunable properties, including those with enhanced gas barrier characteristics. The developed method is compatible with a wide range of dithiols, enabling the creation of polymers with diverse structures and functionalities. The study also shows the successful recycling of polyolefin waste into PTCs, highlighting the potential of this approach for sustainable polymer recycling. The results indicate that PTCs can be used in various applications, including self-healing materials, drug delivery systems, and vitrimers. The study provides a promising pathway for the development of recyclable sulfur-rich polymers with tunable properties.A universal synthetic strategy for producing polytrithiocarbonates (PTCs), a class of sulfur-rich polymers, is reported through the polycondensation of dithiols and dimethyl trithiocarbonate (DMTC). This method enables the synthesis of PTCs with diverse structures, offering a versatile platform for constructing thermoplastics, elastomers, and vitrimers. The PTCs can be depolymerized via solvolysis into monomers, which can be repolymerized to virgin polymers without altering their properties. The study highlights the potential of PTCs for closed-loop recycling, as they can be chemically recycled through reverse transesterification, allowing for the recovery of monomers with high efficiency. The PTCs exhibit excellent thermal, mechanical, and optical properties, and some contain disulfide bonds, enabling self-healing and dynamic network behaviors. The research demonstrates the synthesis of various PTCs with tunable properties, including those with enhanced gas barrier characteristics. The developed method is compatible with a wide range of dithiols, enabling the creation of polymers with diverse structures and functionalities. The study also shows the successful recycling of polyolefin waste into PTCs, highlighting the potential of this approach for sustainable polymer recycling. The results indicate that PTCs can be used in various applications, including self-healing materials, drug delivery systems, and vitrimers. The study provides a promising pathway for the development of recyclable sulfur-rich polymers with tunable properties.
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