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Chemically Recyclable and Biodegradable Vulcanized Rubber
Summary
Researchers developed a vulcanized rubber made from unsaturated polyesters that can be chemically recycled via solvolysis into its constituent monomers at over 90% recovery, and also undergoes partial biodegradation under environmental conditions, addressing the long-standing recyclability barrier of conventional cross-linked rubbers used in tires.
The cross-linked nature of vulcanized rubbers as used in tire and many other applications prohibits an effective closed-loop mechanical or chemical recycling. Moreover, vulcanization significantly retards the material's biodegradation. Here, we report a recyclable and biodegradable rubber that is generated by the vulcanization of amorphous, unsaturated polyesters. The elastic material can be broken down via solvolysis into the underlying monomers. After removal of the vulcanized repeat units, the saturated monomers, constituting the major share of the material, can be recovered in overall recycling rates exceeding 90%. Respirometric biodegradation experiments by 13CO2 tracking under environmental conditions via the polyesters' diol monomer indicated depolymerization and partial mineralization of the vulcanized polyester rubbers.