Vanillin bio-based reprocessable polymers

Two vanillin-based imine thermosets (vitrimer) and two vanillin-based imine thermoplastics are synthetized. The vitrimers are curable with temperature, chemically recyclable, and thermally reprocessable. Starting from the vanillin, they are synthetized two types of monomers. Based on the monomers are synthetized four types of polymers: two linear polymers, polyester and polyurethane, and two thermosets polymers (vitrimer). The synthetized materials are characterized. They are carried out quality characterizations for all the polymers such as NMR analysis, FTIR analysis, DSC analysis, and TGA analysis. For the thermosets polymers, it is performed a gel content test, while for the linear polymers SEC analysis. Regarding mechanical tests, they are made tensile tests for the two types of vitrimers, including the recycled ones. It is performed also a DMA analysis. Thanks to the vitrimeric nature, the thermoset polymers show a good solvent resistance and are easily chemically recycled in acid conditions.