Issue 13, 2021

Dynamic covalent chemistry for architecture changing interpenetrated and single networks

Abstract

Interpenetrating networks (IPN) comprise two or more networks which are woven but not covalently bonded to each other. This is in contrast to simple, or single Networks (SN), which contain only one network that is covalently crosslinked. This study develops SNs and IPNs using 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate as the monomer and (2-((1-(2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl)-2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-3-yl) thio)ethyl acrylate) (TMMDA) as a thermoresponsive dynamic thiol-Michael crosslinker. In the case of the IPN and SN materials the TMMDA is used as a thermoresponsive linker in each network, since TMMDA undergoes dynamic covalent exchange above 90 °C. In this way the SN and IPNs are kinetically trapped in their as synthesized structures until exposed to thermal stimulus. The focus of this study is to investigate how dynamic bond exchange can modulate material properties, after the material has been synthesized using the SN and IPN materials as model systems. The dynamic nature of the thiol-Michael crosslinker allows the transition of IPNs into SN like structures above 90 °C resulting in similar polymer architecture in both SN and IPN. Surprisingly, upon heating the SN materials also changed their mechanical properties, upon activation of the dynamic thiol-Michael bonds. This enhancement is proposed to occur by thermally activating the thiol-Michael bonds and reducing the number of floppy loops at higher temperature.

Graphical abstract: Dynamic covalent chemistry for architecture changing interpenetrated and single networks

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
13 ဖေ 2021
Accepted
28 ဖေ 2021
First published
02 မတ် 2021

Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 1975-1982

Author version available

Dynamic covalent chemistry for architecture changing interpenetrated and single networks

S. V. Wanasinghe, E. M. Schreiber, A. M. Thompson, J. L. Sparks and D. Konkolewicz, Polym. Chem., 2021, 12, 1975 DOI: 10.1039/D1PY00198A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements