Bulk network polymers with dynamic B–O bonds: healable and reprocessable materials

Abstract

The need to minimize the amount of polymeric waste entering landfills and oceans has led to several research avenues in the field of polymer science. Particularly, the development of intrinsically self-healing and reprocessable thermoset polymers containing dynamic crosslinks has garnered significant interest in the recent years. Reversible B–O bonds in certain orgonoboron compounds have shown great versatility and promise as dynamic crosslinks for the design of self-healing and reprocessable bulk polymer networks. This review provides an overview of the chemistry of organoboron species with dynamic B–O bonds amenable to the design of healable/reprocessable thermosets. Recent developments in this fairly young and interesting research topic are highlighted, along with a critical commentary on the scope and future challenges in designing robust dynamic materials with reversible B–O bonds.