vitrimertype

Vitrimertype is a term used in materials science to describe a class of glassy, dynamic covalent networks characterized by reversible bond exchange that enables topology rearrangement without compromising the amorphous character at ambient conditions.

Unlike traditional thermosets, vitrimertype materials can be reshaped, healed, or recycled through controlled heating that activates exchange reactions. The term sits near vitrimers, but denotes a broader or differently defined category in some theoretical discussions, with emphasis on the type of vitrification behavior under various stimuli.

Most vitrimertype formulations rely on dynamic covalent chemistries such as transesterification, transcarbamoylation, or related exchange reactions, often catalyzed by metal salts or organocatalysts. The resulting network exhibits a glass transition while maintaining long-range mobility at elevated temperatures, allowing reprocessing akin to thermoplastics.

Applications proposed include recyclable electronics housings, automotive components, and repairable coatings, where reshaping and healing extend lifetime. Research status is exploratory; the precise boundaries and nomenclature vary between groups, and the concept overlaps with vitrimers and other dynamic networks.

See also vitrimers, dynamic covalent chemistry, polymer networks.