ja302894k_si_001.pdf (553.05 kB)
Metal-Catalyzed Transesterification for Healing and Assembling of Thermosets
journal contribution
posted on 2012-05-09, 00:00 authored by Mathieu Capelot, Damien Montarnal, François Tournilhac, Ludwik LeiblerCatalytic control of bond exchange reactions enables
healing of
cross-linked polymer materials under a wide range of conditions. The
healing capability at high temperatures is demonstrated for epoxy–acid
and epoxy–anhydride thermoset networks in the presence of transesterification
catalysts. At lower temperatures, the exchange reactions are very
sluggish, and the materials have properties of classical epoxy thermosets.
Studies of model molecules confirmed that the healing kinetics is
controlled by the transesterification reaction rate. The possibility
of varying the catalyst concentration brings control and flexibility
of welding and assembling of epoxy thermosets that do not exist for
thermoplastics.