A facile one-pot route to elastomeric vitrimers with tunable mechanical performance and superior creep resistance. (3rd January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Xiaoguang; Wu, Siwu; Yu, Shuangjian; Xiao, Chong; Tang, Zhenghai; Guo, Baochun
• Is Part Of: Polymer. Volume 238(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01-03
• Subjects: Elastomer -- Vitrimers -- Silyl ether -- Mechanical property -- Creep resistance; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2021.124379
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-3861

Abstract

Abstract: The transfer of vitrimer concept to diene-rubber materials can enable these thermosets with thermo-activated malleability and reprocessability. However, there are still significant gaps in the knowledge of introducing dynamic covalent bonds-based networks directly into rubber matrix without the need for elaborated modification of the molecular architecture. Herein, we demonstrate a one-pot approach to prepare covalently cross-linked diene-rubbers by engineering dynamic silyl ether linkages into the networks. Specifically, based on a thermally initiated thiol-ene reaction, silyl ether-based networks were directly achieved through incorporating silyl ether-containing multifunctional thiols (SE-T x ) into commercially available diene-rubber. The mechanical and dynamic behaviors of the resulting networks can be rationally tuned upon the regulation of the content and functionality of SE-T x cross-linkers. In addition, by virtue of the thermal stability of silyl ether linkages, the resulting networks feature with superior creep resistance at moderate temperatures, while the corresponding network rearrangement ability at elevated temperatures is barely affected, enabling the networks with malleability and recyclability. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Silyl ether-based multi-thiols (SE-T x ) were synthesized to cross-link diene rubber. Dynamic silyl ether architecture were directly introduced into elastomer matrix. The content and functionality of SE-T x regularly affect the propery of the system. The systems feature with superior creep resistance at moderate temperatures.