Vitrimers

Vitrimers Resins have a wide range of applications in the paints and coatings sector, particularly as a corrosion-preventive layer on the surfaces of wood, concrete and metals. Thermoplastic resins are high molecular weight polymers that form films through solvent evaporation without internal chemical reaction movement, soften when heated and take on the shape of the surface to which they are applied. Thermoset resins are designed with functional monomers that will react with a cross-linker's functional group to form a cross-linked film when exposed to heat or moisture, either with themselves or with a cross-linker. Once cross-linked, they provide films with excellent resistance to organic solvents, moisture and UV light. Although the mechanical and thermal properties displayed by polymer matrices prepared with thermoset polymers are excellent, they cannot be recycled and lack reusability potential due to permanent covalent cross-links. With growing global demand for synthetic polymers, consumption of fossil fuels has accelerated. Environmental and natural damage has increased, and the development of materials with properties such as reusability and self-healing has become very important to minimize this damage. Through controlled cross-linking density to demonstrate structural integrity, materials with coupled dynamic covalent adaptive network exchange have recently become the focus of researcher interest. Vitrimers are a new type of polymer that exhibits fluidity or shape-change properties when heat-treated like thermoplastics, while showing high mechanical and solvent resistance at room temperature like thermosets. The vitrimer concept emerged to provide a viable strategy for recycling high-performance polymer materials, and various vitrimer types have been developed. Vitrimer-structured polymer matrices can be obtained using a wide variety of coupled dynamic covalent bonds such as transesterification, olefin metathesis, dioxaborolan exchange and silyl ether exchange. In this context, intensive research is ongoing on polyurethane vitrimers with different bond structures. İzel Kimya, a manufacturer of thermoplastic and thermoset polymers, is conducting research on the production of vitrimer polymer network structures using bio-based chemicals. Polymer structures derived from bio-based chemicals that are environmentally and human-health-safe will facilitate applications in the coatings and paints sectors through their recyclability, repeated repairability and the superior physical and mechanical properties they demonstrate, and will contribute to a sustainable economy. Vitrimers commonly employ physical and chemical recycling methods. Physical recycling uses methods such as hot pressing, injection and extrusion moulding, while chemical recycling can be carried out by using chemical solvents or monomers to dissolve or break down vitrimers into their oligomers. On the other hand, chemical recycling is a time-consuming and energy-intensive process. By comparison, physical recycling is simple and easy to use. İzel Kimya, a manufacturer of thermoplastic and thermoset polymers, is conducting research on the production of vitrimer polymer network structures using bio-based chemicals. Polymer structures derived from bio-based chemicals that are environmentally and human-health-safe will facilitate applications in the coatings and paints sectors through their recyclability, repeated repairability and the superior physical and mechanical properties they demonstrate, and will contribute to a sustainable economy.   References 1. ZHANG, Haochuan, et al. Recycling strategies for vitrimers. International Journal of Smart and Nano Materials, 2022, 13.3: 367-390. 2. ZHENG, Jie, et al. Vitrimers: Current research trends and their emerging applications. Materials Today, 2021. 3. RANA, Sravendra, et al. Bio-Vitrimers for Sustainable Circular Bio-Economy. Polymers, 2022, 14.20: 4338. 4. https://sarkac.org/2021/12/polimerler-100-yillik-seruven/ 5. https://www.muhendisbeyinler.net/termoplastikler-ve-termosetler-arasindaki-farklar/ 6. Zhang, Y., Ma, F., Shi, L., Lyu, B., & Ma, J. (2022). Recyclable, repairable and malleable bio-based epoxy vitrimers: overview and future prospects. Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 100726. 7.Tao, Y., Liang, X., Zhang, J., Lei, I. M., & Liu, J. (2022). Polyurethane vitrimers: Chemistry, properties and applications. Journal of Polymer Science.   Recep Furkan Turan - Research and Development Researcher İzel Kimya Dr. Cemil Dizman - Research and Development Manager İzel Kimya