Water-Degradable and Environmentally Responsive Mannich-Type Network

Polymer waste poses a significant challenge to humanity. In recent years, extensive efforts have been directed towards upcycling or degrading commercial polymers, as well as developing sustainable alternatives. However, limitations such as reliance on efficient waste collection systems and increased production costs persist. In this study, we introduce a strategy to address the challenges by developing mechanically robust polymer networks that degrade in water within 30 days. Utilizing three low-cost starting materials—guanidine hydrochloride, aldehyde, and diamine—our approach employs a Mannich-type reaction under mild condition. These polymer networks exhibit exceptional processability, enabling the fabrication of various forms, and demonstrate responsiveness to moisture, making them viable candidates for diverse applications. Our research paves the way for exploring an underexplored regime of polymer design, presenting a novel class of sustainable polymer networks.