Peach gum-based polyimine networks with water resistant, high strength and recycling performances

The preparation of the polyimine (PI) networks from renewable feedstocks has attracted increasing attention due to the degradability and self-healing capabilities of PI networks, which contribute to sustainable development. However, most of bio-based PI networks possess poor environmental stability and mechanical strength. Herein, natural peach gum w·as employed to construct water-resistant bio-based PI networks with high performances, by the curing reaction of Schiff base between 4-aminobenzoic acid grafted peach gum polysaccharide and vanillin-derived difunctionalized aldehyde. The resultant polyimine networks (PGBV) exhibit high tensile strength and high Young's modulus, due to their unique network structures. Moreover, PGBV-100 demonstrates excellent hydrophobicity, welding, self-healing and reprocessing abilities. Furthermore, PGBV-100 can completely degrade in an aqueous solution of HCl (0.1 M), enabling closed-loop recycling. In this work, a research strategy for constructing bio-based PI networks with high performances is presented and the resultant PGBV networks show promising potential application as materials for transportation and building materials.