Superior Epoxy Vitrimer Containing Acetal and Disulfide Bonds for Achieving High Mechanical Properties, Reprocessability, and Degradability

The development of sustainable composites necessitates biobased epoxy resins that are highly recyclable and degradable; however, the integration of mechanical, reprocessing, and rapid degradation properties into a single epoxy resin remains a significant challenge. The present study proposes a straightforward approach to overcoming the problem by combining two labile covalent bonds into an epoxy resin. The combination of acetal and disulfide bonds demonstrates a synergistic effect on the degradation performance of epoxy resin, leading to an ultrafast degradation of the epoxy polymer. The carbon fiber-reinforced composite with the epoxy resin matrix shows a tensile strength exceeding 630 MPa, but the epoxy resin degrades completely within just 8 min, while the recovered carbon fibers display nondestructive characteristics similar to those of the original material. Moreover, the epoxy resin that we designed shows good self-healing and reprocessing ability. Scratches on the resin surface can be completely self-healed by heating, while the powdered resin can be reshaped under a hot press. These findings offer a new approach to the preparation of sustainable composites, highlighting the significant importance of the development of thermosetting polymers.