Redefining the Thermoset through Dynamic Networks
Thermoplastic
Plastics can be divided into two categories—thermoplastics and thermosets.
Thermoplastics contain long chains of molecules entangled together, while thermosets contain chain molecules connected through chemical bonds.
This difference enables thermoplastics to be reprocessed, whereas thermosets cannot be reprocessed.
Thermoset
Thermosets
Thermosets are important materials due to their dimensional stability, chemical resistance, and physical properties and are critical to many industries.
It is estimated that 65 million tons of thermosets are produced each year (10-15% of plastics produced worldwide).
In contrast to thermoplastics, which can be recycled, thermosets cannot be due to their permanent crosslinks. This makes landfills or the environment the final destination for these materials.
A New Paradigm in Polymer Networks
Dynamic networks are a new class of materials that combine the reprocessability of thermoplastics and the properties of thermosets.
These materials have dynamic bonds enabling reversible crosslinks within the materials, unlocking new opportunities for sustainability in thermoset materials.
