Advances in the Synthesis and Application of Dynamic Covalent Polymer Networks

To combat the rising concerns related to plastic wastes, fabricating sustainable and renewable plastics is an important strategy. Thermoplastics (linear polymers) and Thermosets (crosslinked polymer networks) are two main categories of plastic materials. Thermosets have excellent chemical stability, strength, and durability but cannot be recycled. On the other hand, thermoplastics are recyclable, but this comes at the cost of lower stability, strength, and durability. In this dissertation, we aim to combine the advantages of the two categories and create "dynamic plastics" by implementing reversible chemical bonds between polymer chains (crosslinking bonds) to make a 'transient' polymer network. Without activation of the chemical bond, the dynamic plastics behave like typical thermosets that have crosslinks. When an external 'trigger' is applied (e.g., heat, light, sound, among others), the reversible chemical bond is activated, and the crosslinks are temporarily lost. If the crosslinking chemical bond is broken, the dynamic plastic is recyclable and adaptable like a typical thermoplastic. When the trigger is then removed, the chemical bonds are reformed, and the dynamic plastic returns to a thermoset regaining its sough-after properties. This thesis seeks to develop these dynamic plastics into practical materials for everyday use by designing materials that can be produced in large quantities with high efficiency. We focus on creating new ways to make these dynamic plastics that are unconventional with the aim to lower the carbon footprint of the manufacturing process by incorporating Green Chemistry principles. We also show that we can add biobased materials such as algae and agricultural waste into the dynamic plastics to enhance their overall renewability and simultaneously improve their performance properties.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemistry

Department dc:contributor.department

Chemistry

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Jiang, Meng

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Worch, Joshua Charles

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Schulz, Michael
• Morris, John R.
• Esker, Alan R.

• dynamic covalent polymers
• vitrimers
• sustainable polymers
• recycling
• mechanochemistry
• bioplastics
• biohybrid materials
• dynamic covalent polymer composite
• recyclable electronic materials

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:44783

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/140019