Polyimine thermosets based on plant phenols

Given the increasing awareness of the growing environmental problems and the depletion of fossil resources, bio-based recyclable thermosets have received extensive interests from scientists, investors, and consumers in recent years. Plant phenols, aromatic compounds from sustainable resources, are widely used in preparing high-performance bio-based polymers due to their rigidity and hydrophobicity. Introducing an imine bond (dynamic covalent bond) in the networks of thermosets to form the covalent adaptable networks (CANs) can not only solve the difficulty of recycling thermosets but also provide antibacterial and flame-retardant properties. This chapter mainly describes the research frontiers of preparing bio-based recyclable polyimine thermosets based on plant phenols. The synthesis process of the thermosets, the recyclability, and various properties of the materials are summarized in detail. This chapter ends with a summary of the current challenges and prospects.