Boroxine Based Dynamic Polymers

Brief Description

Thermosets are a class of material that have high mechanical and physical strength. While traditional thermoset materials have favorable material properties, reprocessing and recycling them remains a challenge. Researchers at UCI have created dynamic boroxine polymers that crosslink to construct novel thermoset materials that are strong, highly malleable and recyclable.

Full Description

Thermosets are a class of material that have high mechanical and physical strength and are used for a wide range of industrial applications such as automotive construction and electronics. Unfortunately, traditional covalent thermosets disfavors reprocessing and/or recycling methods at the end of their life cycle. It appears desirable to create highly malleable thermosets.

The researchers at the University of California, Irvine, have invented a class of thermoset material, constructed from boroxine that can undergo boroxine exchange to create a malleable polymeric network that is mechanically strong reprocessable and recyclable.

Suggested uses

· Adhesives

· Insulation material

· Sealants

· Coatings

· Pipeline corrosion protection

Advantages

· Novel: The synthesis of dynamic boroxine as thermosets

· This class of material possesses high thermodynamic stability and kinetically tunable

· High Strength and malleable: Boroxine thermosets exhibit a remarkable combination of mechanical strength and high malleability.

· Reprocessable: Boroxine thermosets can be reprocessed

· Recyclable: Boroxine thermosets can be recycled to the original monomer

Patent Status

State Of Development

The inventors have successfully demonstrated the dynamic nature of the boroxine constructions. Future plans include expanding the design parameters by investigating different monomers.