Issue 72, 2018

Inducing hardening and healability in poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) via blending with complementary low molecular weight additives

Abstract

The design and synthesis of low molecular weight additives based on self-assembling nitroarylurea units, and their compatibility with poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) copolymers are reported. The self-assembly properties of the low molecular weight additives have been demonstrated in a series of gelation studies. Upon blending at low percentage weights (≤5%) with poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) the additives were capable of increasing the stress and strain to failure when compared to the parent copolymer. By varying the percentage weight of the additive as well as the type of additive the mechanical properties of poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) could be tailored. Finally, the healability characteristics of the blends were improved when compared to the original polymer via the introduction of a supramolecular ‘network within a network’.

Graphical abstract: Inducing hardening and healability in poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) via blending with complementary low molecular weight additives

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
21 Nov 2018
Accepted
27 Nov 2018
First published
12 Dec 2018
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Adv., 2018,8, 41445-41453

Inducing hardening and healability in poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) via blending with complementary low molecular weight additives

B. C. Baker, I. German, G. C. Stevens, Howard M. Colquhoun and W. Hayes, RSC Adv., 2018, 8, 41445 DOI: 10.1039/C8RA09597C

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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