title: A healable supramolecular polymer blend based on aromatic pi-pi stacking and hydrogen-bonding interactions.
abstract: An elastomeric, healable, supramolecular polymer blend comprising a chain-folding polyimide and a telechelic polyurethane with pyrenyl end groups is compatibilized by aromatic pi-pi stacking between the pi-electron-deficient diimide groups and the pi-electron-rich pyrenyl units. This interpolymer interaction is the key to forming a tough, healable, elastomeric material. Variable-temperature FTIR analysis of the bulk material also conclusively demonstrates the presence of hydrogen bonding, which complements the pi-pi stacking interactions. Variable-temperature SAXS analysis shows that the healable polymeric blend has a nanophase-separated morphology and that the X-ray contrast between the two types of domain increases with increasing temperature, a feature that is repeatable over several heating and cooling cycles. A fractured sample of this material reproducibly regains more than 95% of the tensile modulus, 91% of the elongation to break, and 77% of the modulus of toughness of the pristine material.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AD, UK.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burattini
authors.forename: Barnaby W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Greenland
authors.forename: Daniel Hermida
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Merino
authors.forename: Wengui
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seppala
authors.forename: Howard M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Colquhoun
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Mackay
authors.forename: Ian W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Hamley
authors.forename: Stuart J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rowan
mesh_terms: D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D007094:Imides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D007094:Imides; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011140:Polyurethanes