Vitrimers are an emerging group of materials with very attractive properties from both thermoplastics and thermosets. The uniqueness of vitrimers is the presence of exchangeable cross-links, which enable reprocessing of these thermoset-like materials. Vitrimers contain cross-links that enhance melt strength, chemical resistance and creep performance. To this date, research studies have mainly focused on study the chemistry of these cross-links. The Polymer Engineering Center is focusing on understanding the processing of vitrimers during the initial cross-link formation and in secondary processing steps for certain applications, such as extrusion, thermoforming, foaming and composite processing.
The following research topics are being addressed:
- Characterization of reaction kinetics
- Chemorheological characterization
- Modeling rheological properties
- Thermo-mechanical properties
- Secondary processing
- Reprocessability