Tannic Acid-Based Polycarbonate Networks: A Sustainable Material with High Mechanical Strength, Flame Retardancy, Reprocessability, and Photothermal Self-Healing Properties

19 Pages Posted: 19 Mar 2025

See all articles by Zhaoyi Luo

Zhaoyi Luo

Guilin University of Technology

Aoqian Xi

Guilin University of Technology

Wenpei Chen

Guilin University of Technology

Ting Huang

Guilin University of Technology

Ningning Zhang

Guilin University of Technology

Yanning Zeng

Guilin University of Technology

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Abstract

Polycarbonate (PC) vitrimers can be reprocessed without sacrificing their mechanical properties. However, the usage of petroleum-based raw materials for their preparation makes the process unsustainable. Herein, for the first time, sustainable tannic acid (TA)-based PC vitrimers with integrated high mechanical strength, flame retardancy, reprocessability, and photothermal self-healing capabilities were synthesized via a facile one-step reaction between bio-based TA and bis(6-membered cyclic carbonate) (BCC). The TA content significantly influences the network properties: increasing TA enhanced crosslinking density, leading to superior tensile strength (68.8 MPa), Young’s modulus (2153 MPa), and flame retardancy (UL-94 V-0 rating, LOI 30.0%). Dynamic transcarbonation bonds enabled efficient stress relaxation and reprocessability. Notably, the TA-based PC network exhibited exceptional photothermal conversion efficiency (86.5%), enabling rapid scratch healing (96.9% recovery under NIR irradiation). This work provides a sustainable strategy to replace petroleum-based PC network with biomass alternatives, addressing recyclability and fire safety challenges while maintaining high performance.

Keywords: tannic acid, Polycarbonate vitrimers, Fame retardancy, Photothermal self-healability, Mechanical strength

Suggested Citation

Luo, Zhaoyi and Xi, Aoqian and Chen, Wenpei and Huang, Ting and Zhang, Ningning and Zeng, Yanning, Tannic Acid-Based Polycarbonate Networks: A Sustainable Material with High Mechanical Strength, Flame Retardancy, Reprocessability, and Photothermal Self-Healing Properties. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5185103 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5185103

Zhaoyi Luo

Guilin University of Technology ( email )

Guilin 541004
China

Aoqian Xi

Guilin University of Technology ( email )

Guilin 541004
China

Wenpei Chen

Guilin University of Technology ( email )

Guilin 541004
China

Ting Huang

Guilin University of Technology ( email )

Guilin 541004
China

Ningning Zhang

Guilin University of Technology ( email )

Guilin 541004
China

Yanning Zeng (Contact Author)

Guilin University of Technology ( email )

Guilin 541004
China

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