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Supramolecular and Physically Double-Cross-Linked Network Strategy toward Strong and Tough Elastic Fibers
Zhikai Li1, Jiabin Wang1, Xiaohong Li1
1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
Abstract:
The strength and toughness are two trade-off properties of a material, yet Nature can achieve strong and tough materials by introducing sacrificial bonds into a system. Here, we present a four-component multiblock copolymer (mBCP) approach toward strong and tough elastic fibers, by introducing terpyridine moieties into poly(ether ester) mBCP elastomers. After coordination with Fe(II), supramolecular cross-links are formed within the physically cross-linked thermoplastic elastomers. The toughening elastic fibers with a double-cross-linked network structure show high tensile strength (ca. 300 MPa) and toughness (ca. 100 MJ m-3). In addition, they display excellent resilience with enhanced self-healing properties. Our strategy provides a promising way for the development of strong and tough elastomers by introducing metal-ligand sacrificial bonds into mBCPs elastomers.
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