HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-05_Epoxy Composites with Inherent Recyclability
ABOUT US
Advanced Materials Research Group of Łukasiewicz Research Network — Institute of Heavy Organic Synthesis “Blachownia” specializes in developing of:
- technologies for producing and modification of bio- and fossil-based basic epoxy resins, epoxy vitrimers and glycidyl ethers,
- technologies for producing and modifying formaldehyde-free lignin resins,
- developing technologies for manufacturing polyurethanes (isocyanate and non-isocyanate),
- new types of fiber-reinforced, multi-material and high-filled biocomposites (prepregs, SMC, BMC)
- modification and processing of materials based on thermoplastic biopolymers,
- bio-based materials (alginates, starch, cellulose, chitosan, etc.) for coating applications, including PFAS-free, antibacterial and water/oil resistant coatings,
- plastic materials recycling.
OUR IDEA
Conventional, fossil-based thermosets possess a cross-linked molecular structure with covalent bonds. Typically, their reprocessing by melt processes is impossible, and the non-reversibility of the linkages makes the material recycling through chemical processes highly challenging and energy-intensive. We propose the development of epoxy bio- and waste-based polymer systems using an associative Covalent Adaptable Network (CAN), providing inherent recyclability of the cured polymer. The CAN bonds, unlike thermoset crosslinking, are reversible and enable the reprocessing of composites, creating new possibilities for the end-of-life of materials that can now be recycled, reused, and reprocessed into new composites, while maintaining the excellent mechanical properties of epoxy resins. The main application areas of the epoxy vitrimers are automotive parts, wind turbine blades, and construction composites.
