Thermoset polymers with permanently cross-linked networks have outstanding mechanical properties and solvent resistance, but they cannot be reprocessed or recycled. On the other hand, vitrimers with covalent adaptable networks can be recycled. Here we provide a simple and practical method coined as “vitrimerization” to convert the permanent cross-linked thermosets into vitrimer polymers without depolymerization. The vitrimerized thermosets exhibit comparable mechanical properties and solvent resistance with the original ones. This method allows recycling and reusing the unrecyclable thermoset polymers with minimum loss in mechanical properties and enables closed-loop recycling of thermosets with the least environmental impact.

中文翻译：

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Vitrimerization：将热固性聚合物转化为 Vitrimers

具有永久交联网络的热固性聚合物具有出色的机械性能和耐溶剂性，但它们不能再加工或回收。另一方面，具有共价适应性网络的玻璃体可以回收利用。在这里，我们提供了一种简单实用的方法，称为“玻璃聚合”，可将永久交联的热固性材料转化为玻璃聚合物而不发生解聚。玻璃化热固性材料表现出与原始热固性材料相当的机械性能和耐溶剂性。该方法允许回收和再利用不可回收的热固性聚合物，机械性能损失最小，并且能够以最小的环境影响实现热固性塑料的闭环回收。