EPOXY VITRIMERS BASED ON DGEBA AND EPOXIDIZED PLANT OIL AS CANDIDATES FOR COMPOSITE MATRIX APPLICATIONS

The growing demands related to sustainable development and the need to reduce the environmental impact of the materials industry are leading to a search for alternatives to classic thermosetting resins. Vitrimers – polymers containing covalent adaptive networks, combine the good mechanical properties and thermal stability of cross-linked materials with the possibility of recycling and reprocessing. This study presents epoxy compositions obtained from epoxidized vegetable oil, an acid and anhydride hardener, as well as a transesterification catalyst. The mechanical properties, thermal stability and recyclability of the vitrimers were evaluated, indicating their potential for use in composite materials in line with the rules of the circular economy.