An Interfacial Dynamic Crosslinking Approach toward Catalyst-free and Mechanically Robust Elastomeric Vitrimer with a Segregated Structure

Elastomeric vitrimers with covalent adaptable networks are promising candidates to overcome the intrinsic drawbacks of conventional covalently-crosslinked elastomers; however, most elastomeric vitrimers show poor mechanical properties and require the addition of exogenous catalysts. Herein, we fabricate a catalyst-free and mechanically robust elastomeric vitrimer by constructing a segregated structure of sodium alginate (SA) in the continuous matrix of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR), and further crosslinking the composite by exchangeable hydroxyl ester bonds at the ENR-SA interfaces. The manufacturing process of the elastomeric vitrimer is facile and environmentally friendly without hazardous solvents or exogenous catalysts, as the abundant hydroxyl groups of the segregated SA phase can act as catalyst to activate the crosslinking reaction and promote the dynamic transesterification reaction. Interestingly, the segregated SA structure bears most of the load owing to its high modulus and small deformability, and thus ruptures preferentially upon deformation, leading to efficient energy dissipation.Moreover, the periodic stiffness fluctuation between rigid segregated SA phase and soft ENR matrix is beneficial to the crack-resisting. As a result,the elastomeric vitrimer manifests exceptional combination of catalyst-free, defect-tolerance, high tensile strength and toughness. In addition,the elastomeric vitrimer also exhibits multi-shape memory behavior which may further broaden its applications.     

高性能可回收环氧树脂及其复合材料的制备与性能研究

采用戊二酸酐为固化剂,乙酰丙酮锌为催化剂制备了一种综合性能优异的高性能可回收环氧树脂.系统研究了固化剂及催化剂含量对树脂结构、热学及动态性能的影响,实现了树脂组成的优化设计.基于酯交换反应的热可逆性,制备的vitrimer树脂通过物理热压方法可实现良好回收,力学强度保持率可达80%.采用RTM工艺制备的碳纤维织物增强vitrimer树脂复合材料表现出与传统热固性树脂基复合材料相当的力学性能,并且通过醇类溶剂热降解树脂的方法,可实现复合材料中碳纤维的高效无损回收,回收率近100%.     

基于多重动态共价键的环氧类玻璃网络的制备与性能

以三羟甲基丙烷三缩水甘油醚(TTE)为基体, 2,2′-(1,4-亚苯基)-双[4-硫醇1,3,2-二氧杂戊烷](BDB)和3,3-二硫代二丙酸(DTDPA)为交联剂, 通过环氧-巯基“点击”反应和环氧-羧酸酯化反应, 制备了基于多重动态共价键(硼酸酯键、 二硫键和酯键)的环氧类玻璃网络. 利用红外光谱和拉曼光谱对其结构进行了表征, 结果表明, 环氧类玻璃中不仅存在硼酸酯键、 二硫键和酯键, 还存在可逆氢键, 并且大量氢键的存在能提高环氧类玻璃的交联度. 对所得环氧网络的热稳定性、 热机械性能和力学性能进行了测试, 并对基于多重动态共价键环氧网络进行了自修复、 焊接、 形状记忆和再加工能力测试. 结果表明, 在80 ℃下可实现网络的完全自修复、 再加工与焊接, 且焊接后样品的力学性能(拉伸强度)恢复率在80%以上, 具有优异的功能性.     

“Solid-Liquid” Vitrimers Based on Dynamic Boronic Ester Networks

The "solid-liquid" behavior of vitrimers have not been systematically investigated. Herein, a series of "solid-liquid" vitrimers bearing varying contents of dynamic boronic ester bonds were synthesized via thiol-ene click reactions. These vitrimers allow for flexibile modulation of their network structures and thus show a range of intriguing properties including high stretchability, flexible transition from elasticity to plasticity, strong strain rate dependence, and solid-liquid performance. The dynamic association rate of boronic ester bonds within these vitrimers could be apparently accelerated via increasing the content of boronic ester, which could be used to shape-program the flat vitrimer films into various complex 3 D structures just with external force. Materials with such versatile dynamic behavior may open up a range of new applications.     

Effect of bond exchange rate on dynamics and mechanics of vitrimers

Thermoset polymers are classified amongst the most challenging materials to recycle due to the permanent crosslinks that increase their strength and stiffness compared to their thermoplastic counterparts. Vitrimers provide a promising route to achieve the recyclability of thermosets by implementing dynamic covalent bonds within the network. In this study, a hybrid molecular dynamics (MD)-Monte Carlo (MC) technique is used to simulate these adaptive networks constructed by a coarse-grained model. The model proposed in this work describes the dynamic nature of the covalent bonds while maintaining a constant crosslink density. As this framework also shows flexibility in accommodating various exchange reaction activation energy via adjusting the energy difference in MC step, the dynamic and mechanical properties of the vitrimer system are intensely affected by the number of successful bond exchanges happening at every step. In both rubbery and glassy regimes, lowering the energy barrier of the bond exchange reaction results in enhanced motion for the vitrimer segments. This enhanced mobility, in turn, directly affects the stress–strain relationship of these networks, where a higher number of exchanges results in larger deformation before fracture even at low temperatures. Furthermore, the stress distribution in vitrimers shows more homogenous distribution before failure than in the thermoset network.     

A conjugation polyimine vitrimer: Fabrication and performance

Although polyimine vitrimers are a promising and invaluable class of self-healing materials owing to their great maneuverability and fast exchange of crosslinks without catalysts, it remains a challenge to improve the mechanical properties and thermal stability of the material by simply designing their internal structures. Herein, we report a conjugation polyimine vitrimer, which was prepared by polycondensation of terephthaldehyde, m-xylylene diamine and tris (2-aminoethyl) amine as crosslinker. The incorporation of m-xylylene diamine endows the materials with an expanded conjugation structure, which greatly improves its mechanical properties and thermal stabilities. On the other hand, m-xylylene diamine is less toxic and irritant than the linear aliphatic ones usually used, which makes the reactions more environment-friendly. Results show that these materials have excellent mechanical properties and thermal stability, perform good flexibilities after immersed in water and show very short relaxation times at elevated temperatures. In addition, especially, they exhibit good self-healing efficiency under the condition of heat, water and amine solvents without the need for any catalyst. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 2531–2538     

Highly Recyclable and Tough Elastic Vitrimers from a Defined Polydimethylsiloxane Network

Despite intensive research on sustainable elastomers, achieving elastic vitrimers with significantly improved mechanical properties and recyclability remains a scientific challenge. Herein, inspired by the classical elasticity theory, we present a design principle for ultra-tough and highly recyclable elastic vitrimers with a defined network constructed by chemically crosslinking the pre-synthesized disulfide-containing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chains with tetra-arm polyethylene glycol (PEG). The defined network is achieved by the reduced dangling short chains and the relatively uniform molecular weight of network strands. Such elastic vitrimers with the defined network, i.e., PDMS-disulfide-D, exhibit significantly improved mechanical performance than random analogous, previously reported PDMS vitrimers, and even commercial silicone-based thermosets. Moreover, unlike the vitrimers with random network that show obvious loss in mechanical properties after recycling, those with the defined network enable excellent thermal recyclability. The PDMS-disulfide-D also deliver comparable electrochemical signals if utilized as substrates for electromyography sensors after the recycling. The multiple relaxation processes are revealed via a unique physical approach. Multiple techniques are also applied to unravel the microscopic mechanism of the excellent mechanical performance and recyclability of such defined network.     

A Triple Crosslinking Design toward Epoxy Vitrimers and Carbon Fiber Composites of High Performance and Multi-shape Memory

It remains a challenge to use a simple approach to fabricate a multi-shape memory material with high mechanical performances. Here,we report a triple crosslinking design to construct a multi-shape memory epoxy vitrimer(MSMEV), which exhibits high mechanical properties,multi-shape memory property and malleability. The triple crosslinking network is formed by reacting diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F(DGEBF) with4-aminophenyl disulfide, γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane(APTS) and poly(propylene glycol) bis(2-aminopropyl ether)(D2000). The triple crosslinking manifests triple functions: the disulfide bonds and the silyl ether linkages enable malleability of the epoxy network; the silyl ether linkages impart the network with high heterogeneity and broaden the glass transition region, leading to multi-shape memory property; a small amount of D2000 increases the modulus difference between the glassy and rubbery states, thereby improving the shape fixity ratio. Meanwhile,the high crosslinking density and rigid structure provide the MSMEV with high tensile strength and Young's modulus. Moreover, integrating carbon fibers and MSMEV results in shape memory composites. The superior mechanical properties of the composites and the recyclability of carbon fiber derived from the dissolvability of MSMEV make the composites hold great promise as structural materials in varied applications.     

Effects of alicyclic moiety incorporation on the properties of polyimide/silica hybrid films

Polyimide (PI)/silica hybrid films were prepared from tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) using a sol‐gel process as well as pyromellitic dianhydride and 4,4‐oxydianiline. 1,4‐Cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid (1,4‐CHDA) was added as a coupling agent. The PI/silica hybrid films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction. The thermal, tensile and dielectric properties of the hybrid films were measured. The results showed that the tensile and dielectric properties of the hybrid films improved with increasing silica concentration and 1,4‐CHDA content in the PI matrix. Covalent ester bonds were formed between SiOH groups of silica and carboxyl groups of 1,4‐CHDA. As a result, the silica particle size was reduced and dispersed homogeneously in the PI matrix, leading to increased tensile strength and tensile modulus of the typical hybrid film with 1,4‐CHDA (PI‐2), when compared with the PI/silica hybrid film without 1,4‐CHDA at the same silica contents. The presence of an alicyclic moiety containing silica in PI reduced the dielectric constant considerably to 2.83, which was lower than that of pristine PI. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal,damping, and mechanical properties of thermosetting epoxy-modified asphalts

Epoxy-modified asphalts (epoxy asphalts) have been widely used in the pavements of orthotropic steel bridge deck. In this paper, several effects on the properties of epoxy asphalts have been investigated in detail. First, the addition of asphalts showed no significant effects on the curing reaction and the glass transition temperature of epoxy resin. Second, the damping properties of epoxy asphalts were increased with the addition of asphalt contents. Furthermore, mechanical results showed that the stress at yield, stress at break, and tensile modulus of epoxy asphalts decreased with the increase of asphalt contents, whereas the strain at break increased with the increasing asphalt contents. The morphology of phase separation for epoxy asphalts was also observed.     

聚合条件对透明聚(1,4-环己烷二甲酸-1,4-环己烷二甲醇酯)分子量的影响

采用1,4-环己烷二甲醇(CHDM)与1,4-环己烷二甲酸(CHDA)合成出了高透明全脂环族聚酯——聚(1,4-环己烷二甲酸-1,4-环己烷二甲醇酯)(PCCD).研究了CHDM和CHDA的顺反异构体含量对PCCD结晶性能和光学性能的影响,结果表明当CHDA顺式异构体含量达到40%以上时,可以获得高透明无定型PCCD.3种钛系化合物包括钛酸四丁酯(TBT)、钛酸四异丙酯(TPT)和二氧化钛与二氧化硅复合物C-94用作反应的催化剂,结果以TBT的催化活性最好.TBT用量的增加可以使PCCD分子量小幅度增长.通过对生成物PCCD的分子量和特性黏数测试,分析了CHDM/CHDA初始摩尔比对PCCD的影响规律,随着CHDM/CHDA初始摩尔比的增加,PCCD的分子量呈现先增加后降低的趋势,NMR分析表明,CHDM的挥发性较低导致其只能稍微过量于CHDA,否则会残留于产物中影响分子量.最后研究了合成工艺包括缩聚时间和缩聚温度对PCCD的影响,其中PCCD分子量达到最大值所需要的缩聚时间随CHDM/CHDA初始摩尔比的增加而增加.当原料CHDM和CHDA的初始摩尔比为1.04∶1,催化剂TBT为30 mg/kg时,在275℃缩聚时间达到120 min后可以获得分子量最大的PCCD.     

动态固化聚丙烯/环氧树脂共混物的研究

将动态硫化技术应用于热塑性树脂 热固性树脂体系 ,制备了动态固化聚丙烯 (PP) 环氧树脂共混物 .研究了动态固化PP 环氧树脂共混物中两组分的相容性、力学性能、热性能和动态力学性能 .实验结果表明 ,马来酸酐接枝的聚丙烯 (PP g MAH)作为PP和环氧树脂体系的增容剂 ,使分散相环氧树脂颗粒变细 ,增加了两组分的界面作用力 ,改善了共混物的力学性能 .与PP相比 ,动态固化PP 环氧树脂共混物具有较高的强度和模量 ,含 5 %环氧树脂的共混物拉伸强度和弯曲模量分别提高了 30 %和 5 0 % ,冲击强度增加了 15 % ,但断裂伸长率却明显降低 .继续增加环氧树脂的含量 ,共混物的拉伸强度和弯曲模量增加缓慢 ,冲击强度无明显变化 ,断裂伸长率进一步降低 .动态力学性能分析 (DMTA)表明动态固化PP 环氧树脂共混物是两相结构 ,具有较高的储能模量 (E′)     

热历史对已固化环氧树脂松弛行为的影响

<正> 环氧树脂是一种性能优良且应用广泛的高分子材料,近年来,人们对已固化环氧试样在玻璃化温度(T_g)以下贮存时,物理性能随时间而变化的物理老化现象进行了广泛的研究.Ophir等发现已固化环氧试样经淬火处理后,其T_g随贮存时间升高,认为是由于自由体积随贮存时间减小所致.Mijovic用不同的方法进行过类似的研究,发现淬火环氧试样的T_g随贮存时间降低,认为是由于试样中的内应力松弛所致.本文试图进一步搞     

透闪石/环氧树脂复合材料性能研究

环氧树脂是一类综合性能较好的热固性树脂,为了扩大其应用范围．通常的办法是采用纤维进行增强．目前,许多研究工作者采用纳米粒子、粘土对其进行改性,所用的粘土包括各种有机蒙脱土、高岭土等,作者曾采用海泡石对环氧树脂进行改性,使环氧树脂的各项力学性能得以提高,然而采用透闪石对环氧树脂进行改性,还鲜见相关报道．透闪石是一种带有极性基团的天然矿物,     

Reinforcement effect of carbon nanofillers in an epoxy resin system: Rheology,molecular dynamics,and mechanical studies

The reinforcing effect of carbon nanoparticles in an epoxy resin has been estimated with different approaches based on rheology, molecular dynamics (evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry, dielectric relaxation spectroscopy, and thermally stimulated depolarization current), and dynamic mechanical analysis. Carbon particles aggregate as the volume increases and form a fractal structure in the matrix polymer. The dispersion microstructure has been characterized by its viscoelastic properties and relaxation time spectrum. The scaling of the storage modulus and yield stress with the volume fraction of carbon shows two distinct exponents and has thus been used to determine the critical carbon volume fraction of the network formation (Φ*) for the carbon/epoxy dispersions. At nanofiller concentrations greater than Φ*, the overall mobility of the polymer chains is restricted in both dispersions and solid nanocomposites. Therefore, (1) the relaxation spectrum of the dispersions is strongly shifted toward longer times, (2) the glass‐transition temperature is increased and (3) the relaxation strength of both the secondary (β) and primary (α) relaxations increases in the nanocomposites, with respect to the pure polymer matrix. The dispersion microstructure, consisting of fractal flocs and formed above Φ*, is proposed to play the main role in the reinforcement of nanocomposites. Moreover, the network structure and the interface polymer layer (bond layer), surrounding nanoparticles, increases the relaxation strength and slows the cooperative α relaxation, and this results in an improvement of the mechanical properties. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 522–533, 2005     

Reprocessible Triketoenamine-Based Vitrimers with Closed-Loop Recyclability

Development of thermosets that can be repeatedly recycled via both chemical route (closed-loop) and thermo-mechanical process is attractive and remains an imperative task. In this work, we reported a triketoenamine based dynamic covalent network derived from 2,4,6-triformylphloroglucinol and secondary amines. The resulting triketoenamine based network does not have intramolecular hydrogen bonds, thus reducing its π-electron delocalization, lowering the stability of the tautomer structure, and enabling its dynamic feature. By virtue of the highly reversible bond exchange, this novel dynamic covalent bond enables the easy construction of highly crosslinked and chemically reprocessable networks from commercially available monomers. The as-made polymer monoliths exhibit high mechanical properties (tensile strength of 79.4 MPa and Young's modulus of 571.4 MPa) and can undergo a monomer-network-monomer (yields up to 90 %) recycling mediated by an aqueous solution, with the new-generation polymer capable of restoring the material strength to its original state. In addition, owing to its dynamic nature, a catalyst-free and low-temperature reprogrammable covalent adaptable network (vitrimer) was achieved. The design concept reported herein can be applied to the development of other novel vitrimers with high repressibility and recyclability, and sheds light on future design of sustainable polymers with minimal environmental impact.     

Bio‐based epoxy vitrimers: Reprocessibility,controllable shape memory,and degradability

The research activities in the development of recyclable and reprocessable covalently crosslinked networks, and the construction of polymers from renewable resources are both stemmed from the economical and environmental problems associated with traditional thermosets. However, there is little effort in combination of these two attractive strategies in material designs. This article reported a bio‐based vitrimer constructed from isosorbide‐derived epoxy and aromatic diamines containing disulfide bonds. The resulted dynamic epoxy resins showed comparable thermomechanical properties as compared to similar epoxy networks cured by traditional curing agent. Rheological tests demonstrated the fast stress relaxation of the dynamic network due to the rapid metathesis of disulfide bonds at temperature higher than glass transition temperature. This feature permitted the recycling and reprocessing of the fragmented samples for several times by hot press. The dynamic epoxy resins also exhibited shape‐memory effect, and it is demonstrated that the shape recovery ratio could be readily adjusted by controlling the stress relaxation in the temporary state at programming temperature. Moreover, the degradability of the dynamic epoxy resins in alkaline aqueous solution was also demonstrated. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 1790–1799     

Preparation and characterization of aliphatic/aromatic copolyesters based on 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid

A series of biodegradable aliphatic/aromatic copolyesters, poly(butylene terephthalate)-co-poly(butylene cyclohexanedicarboxylate)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (PTCG), were prepared by a two-step melt polycondensation method and characterized by means of GPC, FTIR, NMR, DSC, TGA, etc. The effects of aliphatic ester content on the physical, mechanical and thermal properties, as well as in vitro and in vivo degradation behaviors were investigated. The decrease in mechanical strength was observed with an increase in poly(butylene cyclohexanedicarboxylate) (PBC) molar fraction. DSC results showed one melting point and two glass transition temperatures in all samples, and the melting temperature was found to go down gradually as more cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid (CHDA) was added. During the in vitro and in vivo degradation processes, erosion of the surface was dominant as evidenced by scanning electron microscopic observations. The copolyesters containing many CHDA units were featured by the higher water uptake and faster degradation due to much richer amorphous phase within them.     

环氧树脂类玻璃高分子研究进展

类玻璃高分子(Vitrimer)是一类具有可逆共价交联网络的高分子,其能够在维持交联结构的同时实现交联网络的重构,兼具热固性高分子和热塑性高分子的双重优势。基于通用热固性树脂形成的Vitrimer材料不仅能具有良好的力学性能和耐溶剂性等,还能表现出类似热塑性树脂的流动性和重复加工性能,为从源头上实现交联树脂的回收和再利用提供了有效的途径。近年来,围绕Vitrimer材料的研究已取得了蓬勃的发展,其中数环氧树脂Vitrimer的研究最为广泛,本文将系统介绍环氧树脂Vitrimer的设计理念及其性能特点,梳理该领域的典型研究体系,并指出可能的发展方向,为传统热固性树脂的可再生和高性能化发展提供参考。     

Dynamic mechanical and dielectric properties of epoxidized SBS triblock copolymer

The morphological and dynamic properties of epoxidized styrene–butadiene–styrene block copolymers were studied and compared with their parent styrene–butadiene–styrene block copolymer (SBS). Two peaks were observed in the mechanical loss (tan δ) curve which can be attributed to segmental motion of epoxidized polybutadiene (EPPB) and polystyrene. Analysis by DSC thermograms also showed the linear increase of glass transition temperature for EPPB domain with the epoxy group content. Phase separated structures of epoxidized SBS as observed by TEM suggests a considerable degree of mixing occurred between phases after 80 mol % of the double bonds in SBS were epoxidized. The interfacial region displays a third peak and causes much steeper drop in modulus at higher temperature than T_g of EPPB. Parallel dielectric relaxation measurements were also made in the frequency range of 30 Hz–1 KHz as a function of temperature. In each dielectric constant (?′) curve, there is a maximum near the T_g of EPPB determined from the dielectric loss tangent curve. The shift in T_g of EPPB versus epoxy group content was consistent with that measured by the thermal and dynamic mechanic analysis. These findings indicated an 8°C shift in glass transition temperature as the epoxy group content in EPPB increased 10%.