title: Fabrication and structural analysis of polyrotaxane fibers and films.
abstract: Polyrotaxane (PR), a typical example of topological supramolecular architecture, consists of multiple cyclic molecules threaded onto a linear polymer backbone and capped with bulky end-groups. The PR system of polyethylene glycol and α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) has been extensively studied for its facile synthesis, unique molecular structure, and possible applications for various smart materials. We have previously demonstrated the fabrication of PR-based fibers without chemical cross-links by wet spinning of PR solution. In this paper, we investigate the crystal structure of α-CDs in PR fibers and the effect of drawing on it. The α-CDs in PR fiber are found to form hexagonal channel-type structure. The drawing process promotes formation of the packing arrangement of α-CDs in the c-axis because of the sliding of α-CD molecules along the polymer backbone. In addition, we demonstrate the preparation of an elastomeric PR film having similar network structure to the fibers and ethylene glycol oligomer as plasticizer.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan. sakai@molle.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsuyama
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Shunya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuroiwa
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teramoto
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Kohzo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D002942:Circular Dichroism; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization; D003505:Cyclodextrins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008956:Models, Chemical; D020442:Poloxamer / Q000737:chemistry*; D043862:Rotaxanes / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003505:Cyclodextrins; D043862:Rotaxanes; C475673:polyrotaxane; D020442:Poloxamer