In order to reduce the overdependence on petroleum-based
products,
the preparation of functional polymers with renewable resources has
become a research hotspot. In this study, tung oil, extracted from
tung tree seeds, was introduced to the synthesis of tung maleic anhydride
(TOMA) and epoxidized tung oil ethanolamides (ETOE) via a simple modification
of the conjugated double bonds and ester bonds of tung oil, and then
tung oil-based vitrimers (PETVs) based on a dynamic hydroxyl ester
exchange reaction were prepared with different ratios of ETOE to TOMA.
Due to the presence of abundant hydroxyl esters and flexible aliphatic
long chains, PETVs showed a fast and excellent self-healing performance,
and their repair efficiency reached 94.7% at 160 °C for 10 min
without any catalyst. In addition, PETVs exhibited excellent mechanical
properties, alkali degradability, shape memory properties, and recyclability.
Degradation experiments indicated that PETVs could be completely hydrolyzed
to small-molecule substances in alkaline solutions. PETV/MWCNT composites
(PMs) with excellent electrical and thermal conductivity exhibited
rapid self-healing ability under the conditions of electrical, infrared
radiation, and heating. Compared to conventional petroleum-based thermoset
polymers, PETVs with the advantages of environmental friendliness
and sustainability could provide a practical strategy to prepare high-performance
vitrimers from renewable materials.