A new recyclable polymer based on Diels–Alder crosslinking networks derived from anisaldehyde

Abstract

The preparation of recyclable cross-linked polymers by combining biomass-based resources with dynamic covalent bonds is a promising strategy for the preparation of sustainable and recyclable thermosetting materials. In this paper, a biomass-based epoxy resin was synthesized from anisaldehyde, and then a biomass-based polymeric material was prepared using Diels–Alder chemistry. The biomass-based material exhibits high mechanical strength and light transparency. The tensile strength and elongation of the biomass-based material at a temperature of 315 °C with a weight loss of 5% (T_d5) were 79.7 MPa and 12.2%, respectively, which are higher than those of material synthesized from petroleum-based (bisphenol A) epoxy resin. The biomass-based film material with a thickness of 0.14 mm has a transmittance of up to 89% in the light wavelength range of 550–1200 nm. Moreover, the biomass-based material showed good recyclability.