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Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

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Updated: Mar 3, 2026

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers

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Published on: December 16, 2022

Healable and Reprocessable PETG-Based Dynamic Vinylogous Urethane Networks.

Chaninya Mak-Iad^1,2, José Augusto Berrocal^1,3,4, Georges J M Formon^1,2

¹Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, Fribourg 1700, Switzerland.

|March 2, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Sustainable polymers are crucial. This study developed healable and reprocessable vinylogous urethane (VU) networks from PETG, demonstrating excellent mechanical properties and efficient self-healing capabilities for extended material lifetime.

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Polymer Chemistry
Sustainable Materials

Background:

Growing demand for sustainable materials necessitates extending polymer lifecycles.
Conventional polymers often lack reprocessability and self-healing properties, leading to waste.
Polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) is a widely used high-performance polyester.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop novel healable and reprocessable polymer networks from PETG.
To investigate the synthesis and properties of vinylogous urethane (VU) networks.
To enhance the sustainability and lifetime of commercial polyesters.

Main Methods:

Synthesized VU networks via Zn-catalyzed transesterification of PETG with ethylene glycol.
End-functionalized telechelics with bis-acetoacetate.
Formed VU networks using tris-(2-aminoethyl)-amine (TREN).

Main Results:

Achieved high tensile strength (up to 48 MPa), stiffness (0.9 GPa), and ductility (7% elongation at break).
Demonstrated efficient reprocessing with minimal performance loss over multiple cycles.
Exhibited rapid and effective healing, recovering 95% of original strength in 15 minutes at 180 °C.

Conclusions:

Successfully transformed PETG into a reprocessable and healable material.
The developed VU networks offer a sustainable alternative with extended material lifetime.
Presents a scalable method for creating advanced functional polyesters.