Polycarbonate-based vitrimer materials and corresponding methods

A method of producing a vitrimer, the method comprising steps of

• providing an epoxide group containing compound;
• providing a carboxylic acid group containing compound;
• wherein one or more of the epoxide group containing compound and the carboxylic acid group containing compound is a polycarbonate-based material;
• combining the epoxide group containing compound with the carboxylic acid group containing compound to form a reaction mixture;
• and
• subjecting the reaction mixture to conditions that will allow the epoxide group containing compound to react with the carboxylic acid group containing compound to thereby form the vitrimer;
• wherein the vitrimer includes a β-hydroxy ester group where the epoxide group reacts with the carboxylic acid group.