Bio-based vitrimer-like polyurethane based on dynamic imine bond with high-strength, reprocessability, rapid-degradability and antibacterial ability

• Published in: Polymer (Guilford) 2021-10, Vol.233, p.124208, Article 124208
• Main Authors: Sun, Yinglu, Sheng, Dekun, Wu, Haohao, Tian, Xinxin, Xie, Haopu, Shi, Biru, Liu, Xiangdong, Yang, Yuming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibacterial property; Bio-based polyurethane; Castor oil; Corrosion resistance; Covalent bonds; Degradability; Degradation; Diisocyanates; Dynamic stability; Imine bond; Mechanical properties; Polyurethane; Polyurethane resins; Rapidly-degradable; Stress relaxation; Thermal resistance; Thermal stability; Vanillin; Vitrimer-like; Vitrimers
• ISSN: 0032-3861; 1873-2291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2021.124208

Synthesis of vitrimer with dynamic covalent bond is a surprising solution to overcome the inherent limitations of traditional thermosets. A bio-based vitrimer-like polyurethane formed by castor oil, vanillin, m-xylylenediamine and 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate in the preparation has superior mechanical properties, good solvent resistance, good thermal stability. Furthermore, the existence of dynamic imine bond in the vitrimer-like polyurethane is prone for polyurethane to rapid stress relaxation behavior, remoldability, weldability, antibacterial ability. With the hydrolysis of the imine bond, the material can be rapidly degraded at 60 °C for 1 h. In addition, it's commendable that the material exhibits excellent reprocessability that can be maintained at 86% even after 3 consecutive smash/mold pressing cycles. This work provides a promising method to manufacture bio-based polyurethane thermosets with excellent reprocessability, rapidly-degradable and antibacterial property, which has also promoted the high-value utilization of biomass materials. [Display omitted] •A novel bio-based vitrimer-like polyurethane containing castor oil and vanillin with high-strength has been synthesized.•Imine exchange reaction in the networks exhibits fast relaxation behavior and thermal processability.•The bio-based vitrimer-like polyurethane can be chemically degraded quickly under mild conditions.•Antibacterial performance was verified with an antibacterial rate of up to 86.63%.