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Multivalency in healable supramolecular polymers: the effect of supramolecular cross-link density on the mechanical properties and healing of non- covalent polymer networks
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 12:48 authored by Lewis R Hart, James H Hunter, Ngoc A Nguyen, Josephine L Harries, Barnaby GreenlandBarnaby Greenland, Michael E Mackay, Howard M Colquhoun, Wayne HayesPolymers with the ability to heal themselves could provide access to materials with extended lifetimes in a wide range of applications such as surface coatings, automotive components and aerospace composites. Here we describe the synthesis and characterisation of two novel, stimuli-responsive, supramolecular polymer blends based on p-electron-rich pyrenyl residues and p-electron-deficient, chain-folding aromatic diimides that interact through complementary p–p stacking interactions. Different degrees of supramolecular “cross-linking” were achieved by use of divalent or trivalent poly(ethylene glycol)-based polymers featuring pyrenyl end-groups, blended with a known diimide–ether copolymer. The mechanical properties of the resulting polymer blends revealed that higher degrees of supramolecular “cross-link density” yield materials with enhanced mechanical properties, such as increased tensile modulus, modulus of toughness, elasticity and yield point. After a number of break/heal cycles, these materials were found to retain the characteristics of the pristine polymer blend, and this new approach thus offers a simple route to mechanically robust yet healable materials.
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Publication status
- Published
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- Published version
Journal
Polymer ChemistryISSN
1759-9954Publisher
Royal Society of ChemistryExternal DOI
Issue
11Volume
5Page range
3680-3688Department affiliated with
- Chemistry Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2018-04-10First Open Access (FOA) Date
2018-04-10First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2018-04-10Usage metrics
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