Multifunctional vitrimer nanocomposites based on waste plastic-derived reduced graphene oxide and epoxy/polyethylene blends with enhanced self-healing properties

Abstract

This study presents a new method for creating multifunctional vitrimer epoxy/polyethylene (PE) /hexamethylene diamine (HMDA) functionalized waste plastic derived reduced graphene oxide (V-EP/PE/HMDA-rGO) nanocomposites, which are ecologically friendly materials with improved capabilities. By utilizing the chemical reactivity of HMDA-rGO, we enable targeted covalent functionalization. This allows for the integration of waste-derived carbon nanomaterials into vitrimer matrices. By employing direct and easy methods, these nanocomposites demonstrate significant improvements in both their ability to conduct heat and their capacity for self-repair. Disulfide exchanges at a temperature of 130°C for duration of 15 minutes facilitate the self-healing of pristine epoxy vitrimer. This process is further enhanced by including PE and HMDA-rGO. Significantly, the nanocomposites exhibit a reduced self-healing temperature of 120°C for duration of 8 and 6 minutes, indicating considerable enhancements. The addition of 1.0wt% HMDA-rGO leads to notable enhancements of 33.71°C and 14.76°C in the thermal decomposition temperatures of 5%, and 10% respectively. Vitrimeric materials, which combine the properties of thermosetting and thermoplastic materials, offer a potential direction for polymer research. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of these substances has been impeded by elevated glass transition temperature (Tg) and activation energies. Our method addresses these restrictions by providing a mechanism to reduce the Tg, which is essential for enabling self-healing at low temperatures. This work not only broadens the scope of sustainable materials by using components obtained from trash, but also provides practical ways to improve the performance of vitrimeric systems.