Castor Oil-Based Epoxy Vitrimer Based on Dual Dynamic Network with Intrinsic Photothermal Self-Healing Capability

Abstract

The development of sustainable epoxy vitrimers with outstanding mechanical strength and facile self-healing capabilities are of great significance for prolonging the lifespan and enhancing the reliability of electronic devices. In this study, we present a castor oil-derived epoxy vitrimer (ASB–ECO) featuring dual dynamic networks enabled by rationally designed ester–imine bonds and an aromatic Schiff base-conjugated crosslinker architecture. This molecular design strategy effectively enhances the mechanical properties of vegetable oil-based vitrimers and endows them with controllable self-healing capabilities under photothermal conversion. The 1.0-ASB–ECO system demonstrates dynamic characteristics with an activation energy (Ea) of 37.25 kJ/mol and a topological freezing transition temperature (Tv) of 123.13 °C. The material exhibits a photothermal conversion efficiency (ηPT = 61.42%) and can achieve a self-healing rate of 100% under visible-light radiation. In addition, 1.0-ASB–ECO displays a dielectric constant (Dk) of 5.54 and a loss tangent (Df) of 0.025 at 106 Hz. This study on biomass-based epoxy vitrimers presents a novel approach to developing electronic materials, achieving a combination of high mechanical performance, sustainability, and photothermal self-healing properties.