Carbonization of Butadiene Enables Recyclable Carbon Fiber Polymer Composites

The catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide into polymers via high-energy comonomers offers a sustainable, low-cost, and low-emission approach for developing conveniently manufactured high-performance materials without competing for land-use or food resources. We present the synthesis of poly(amidoamine) polymers stoichiometrically derived from carbon dioxide, butadiene, and amines displaying useful mechanical properties (tensile strength 43 MPa, Young’s modulus 840 MPa, and flexural modulus 2.8 GPa). The low viscosity precursors are applicable to producing carbon fiber reinforced polymers with fiber wetting and rapid network formation (16 minutes at 150°C). This work reveals that internal hydrogen-bonding catalyzes the ring-opening polymerization, and the intramolecular alcohol moiety promotes chemical recyclability in acidic conditions, allowing fiber recovery with <1.0 wt % difference from virgin fiber and monomer in 72% yield.