Work

Photocurable Double Dynamic Polyester Resins with Closed-Loop Circular End of Life

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Circular acrylate-free photocurable resins are demonstrated based on a double-dynamic system combining disulfide and ester bonds. Aliphatic polyesters are functionalized with biobased lipoic acid (LA) and combined with a low-molecular-weight linker to produce a library of photocurable resins with tunable properties. Upon UV curing, ring opening of LA generates crosslinked networks featuring a polyester backbone and dynamic disulfide crosslinks. The materials exhibited excellent reprocessability, maintaining good mechanical performance over two thermal reprocessing cycles. In addition, closed-loop chemical recyclability of the twice-reprocessed materials was demonstrated under mild conditions, with recovery of the original photoreactive resin components in yields exceeding 85%. Lastly, a short degradation study under accelerated conditions indicated that the networks were degradable through hydrolysis. This work provides a versatile platform for circular photocurable resins with tunable properties, mechanical and chemical recyclability, and enhanced degradability, highlighting the importance of molecular design for circular polymer systems.

Source: Biomacromolecules

DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.6c01649

Authors: Rebecca Mattsson, Thomas Griesser, Minna Hakkarainen

Institutions: KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Montanuniversität Leoben

Language: English

Topic: Polymer composites and self-healing

Subfield: Polymers and Plastics

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500