A Universal platform for recycling plastic waste using dynamic covalent bonds

Despite the ubiquity of plastics in daily life, our capacity to recycle end-of-life plastic products remains limited. Today, most plastic waste collected in the EU is either sent to landfill or incinerated for energy recovery, which releases large amounts of greenhouse gases. A promising strategy for transforming the plastics sector into a circular economy is to increase the amount of plastic waste that is mechanically recycled. However, this amount represents less than 10% of the feedstock used to make new products in the EU, because of poor physical properties. Three formidable challenges are at the origin of this lasting problem: chain degradation during processing, immiscibility of mixtures comprising different kinds of recycled polymers, and reduced ability to efficiently recycle elastomeric materials with permanent bonds. We propose to address them with ReBond, a DN dedicated to developing a versatile platform for reinforcing polymer-polymer interfaces and improving the mechanical properties and processability of recycled plastics. We shall implement a novel strategy based on the use of vitrimers, which are permanent chemical networks comprising thermally-activated dynamic covalent crosslinks. We envision that processing of recycled polymers can be substantially enhanced through the addition of vitrimers. To accomplish this ambitious goal we have devised an interdisciplinary approach involving polymer synthesis, structure, rheology, processing and mechanical properties. A superb training program, spanning polymer chemistry, physics, and engineering, provides trainees with double doctorates and a unique scientific background with access to the state-of-the-art in the field. ReBond assembles an international team of experts from both academia and industry to provide outstanding inter-sectorial experience to the next generation of material scientists and pioneers of circular plastics economy.