- By:
- Zheng, Jackie ; Galan, Nicholas J; Boucher, Mairead F; Jupp, Octavio J; Mahappu Koralalage, Menisha S; Choi, Jihye ; Kehelkadu Withanage, Chethani C; Nelson, Toby L; Foster, Jeffrey C; Saito, Tomonori
- Journal Name:
- Cell Reports Physical Science
- Page Number:
- 102908
- Volume:
- 6
- Publication Date:
- January 13, 2026
- View DOI Listing:
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2025.102908
Abstract
Nylon is a high-strength polyamide widely used in automotive, textiles, packaging, etc. However, its durability makes nylon waste difficult to manage, with recycling limited to mechanical grinding to make fillers. Here, we report a catalytic glycolysis approach to deconstruct Nylon 6 into controlled-length oligomers, enabling upcycling into value-added materials. A low-molecular-weight oligomer (Mn = 1.8 kg/mol) was repolymerized with diepoxy-terminated poly(bisphenol A-co-epichlorohydrin) via mechanochemistry to create a high-performance adhesive. This copolymer achieves lap shear strengths over 22 MPa on steel and bonds steel to carbon fiber composites, nearly tripling the performance of commercial adhesives even at 90°C. Thermomechanical analyses show that the adhesive retains thermal stability similar to nylon 6 but melts at lower temperatures, allowing easier processing. The material can be reprocessed and reused without significant performance loss. This study demonstrates a strategy to convert nylon 6 waste into valuable materials, offering a sustainable path for difficult-to-recycle plastics.
