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Reference.org
Covalent adaptable network
open-in-new
<p>Covalent adaptable networks (CANs) are a type of <a href="/facts/Polymer/eF32E50K">polymer</a> material that closely resemble <a href="/facts/Thermosetting_polymer/EagnsydT">thermosetting polymers</a> (thermosets). However, they are distinguished from thermosets by the incorporation of <a href="/facts/Dynamic_covalent_chemistry/Pwsbos8F">dynamic covalent chemistry</a> into the polymer network. When a <a href="/facts/Stimulus_(physiology)/aBcpBfYQ">stimulus</a> (for example heat, light, pH, ...) is applied to the material, these dynamic bonds become active and can be broken or exchanged with other pending <a href="/facts/Functional_group/GXkSPsjM">functional groups</a>, allowing the polymer network to change its topology. This introduces reshaping, (re)processing and <a href="/facts/Recycling/x9X7GAzz">recycling</a> into thermoset-like materials. </p>