	US 12,473,419 B2
	One-step, solvent-free method for recycling and reprocessing thermoset polymers with tunable properties
Ica Manas-Zloczower, Cleveland, OH (US); Liang Yue, Cleveland, OH (US); and Mehrad Amirkhosravi, Cleveland, OH (US)
Assigned to CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY, Cleveland, OH (US)
Filed by CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY, Cleveland, OH (US)
Filed on May 23, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/750,730.
Application 17/750,730 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/942,935, filed on Jul. 30, 2020, granted, now 11,339,268.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/880,219, filed on Jul. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0282056 A1, Sep. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. C08J 11/16 (2006.01); C08J 11/26 (2006.01)

CPC C08J 11/26 (2013.01) [C08J 2363/02 (2013.01); C08J 2367/06 (2013.01)]

21 Claims

1. A method for recycling a thermoset polymer material, the method comprising:

selecting a thermoset waste polymer including unsaturated polyester resin, said thermoset waste provided as particles and/or fragments;

providing a catalyst to the thermoset waste polymer to create a recycling composition;

adding an alcohol and/or polyol to the recycling composition; and

milling the recycling composition having the alcohol and/or polyol into vitrimer polymer, wherein the vitrimer polymer includes a dynamic recyclable network in which a portion of the catalyst forms ligands with a portion of the thermoset waste polymer.