Recyclable superplastics made with old chemistry
Two materials — one strong, the other self-healing — are the first easily recycled high-performance polymers
By Beth Mole
With an accidental tweak to a classic chemical reaction, scientists have created the first easily recyclable forms of mighty plastics. The discovery provides the potential to lower costs and reduce waste of everyday products, researchers say.
The two new nitrogen-containing materials, a superstrong plastic and a squishy, self-healing gel represent new types of thermosets, which are heat resistant and highly stable polymers. Thermosets are widely used, from automobiles and aerospace equipment to electronic devices, and are difficult if not impossible to recycle. But unlike other thermosets, the new polymers easily break down into their original components, ready to reassemble into something new.