Technical Route to Develop High-Tg Epoxy Composite That Is Water Degradable at Low Temperature

Degradable polymers and compositesComposites have found extensive applications in various industries but are currently limited to low-temperature usage due to their low glass transition temperature (typically <80 °C). High-TgHigh Tg polymer compositesComposites, predominantly composed of epoxyEpoxy resin, present challenges in decomposition, often necessitating high temperature, pressure, corrosive environments, and even supercritical fluids. The increasing adoption of fiber-enhanced compositesComposites for weight reduction and corrosionCorrosion resistance further aggravates environmental concerns. This study addresses these challenges by introducing a pioneering solution in the form of a novel high-TgHigh Tg (>130 °C) epoxyEpoxy compositeComposites that exhibits water degradability below 100 °C. The material development process and degradation mechanism will be comprehensively elucidated. To the best of our knowledge, this marks the industry's first water-degradableWater degradable high-TgHigh Tg epoxyEpoxy compositeComposites, unlocking a plethora of new applications across industries and providing an environmentally friendly, green compositeComposites material.