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Related Concept Videos

Polymers02:34

Polymers

36.4K
The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the...
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Polymer Classification: Architecture01:14

Polymer Classification: Architecture

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Polymers are classified as linear or branched on the basis of their chain architecture. The polymer chains in linear polymers have a long chain-like structure with minimal to no branching at all. Even if a polymer features large substituent groups on the monomer, which appear as branches to the skeleton, it is not considered a branched polymer. A branched polymer contains secondary polymer chains that arise from the main polymer chain. The branching occurs when the polymer growth shifts from...
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Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:20

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

2.2K
The polymerization process that involves carbanion as an intermediate is called anionic polymerization. It is also a type of addition or chain-growth polymerization. Anionic polymerization gets initiated by a strong nucleophile such as an organolithium or a Grignard reagent. The most commonly used initiator for anionic polymerization is butyl lithium. Monomers involved in anionic polymerization must possess a vinyl group bonded to one or two electron-withdrawing groups. For instance,...
2.2K
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:10

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

2.5K
Chain-growth or addition polymerization is successive addition reactions of monomers with a polymer chain. In radical chain-growth polymerization, the reaction proceeds via a free-radical intermediate. The free radical is formed from radical initiators, which spontaneously generate free radicals by homolytic fission. Organic peroxides (such as dibenzoyl peroxide, as shown in Figure 1) or azo compounds are popular radical initiators. A low concentration ratio of radical initiator to monomer is...
2.5K
Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters01:20

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

2.3K
The introduction of polyesters has brought major development to the textile industry. The wrinkle-free behavior of polyester blends has eliminated the need for starching and ironing clothes.
Polyesters are commonly prepared from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; the crude product is known as poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET. However, polyesters are synthesized industrially by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol at 150 °C. The two reactants and the...
2.3K
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:04

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

2.1K
The mechanism for anionic chain-growth polymerization involves initiation, propagation, and termination steps. In the initiation step, a nucleophilic anion, such as butyl lithium, initiates the polymerization process by attacking the π bond of the vinylic monomer. As a result, a carbanion, stabilized by the electron‐withdrawing group, is generated. The resulting carbanion acts as a Michael donor in the propagation step and attacks the second vinylic monomer, which acts as a Michael...
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DNA Nanotubes as a Versatile Tool to Study Semiflexible Polymers
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Robust and Dynamic Polymer Networks Enabled by Woven Crosslinks.

Guangfeng Li1,2, Jun Zhao1, Zhaoming Zhang1

  • 1School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China.

Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|September 1, 2022
PubMed
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Researchers developed a novel dynamic woven crosslink for polymer networks, achieving robust mechanical properties like stiffness and strength, alongside enhanced toughness and self-healing capabilities.

Keywords:
Dynamic MaterialsMechanical AdaptivityMetal CoordinationPolymer NetworksWoven Crosslinks

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Science and Materials Engineering
  • Supramolecular Chemistry
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Crosslinking is vital for polymer mechanical properties, but achieving both robustness and dynamism is challenging.
  • Existing covalent polymer networks (CPN) offer strength, while supramolecular polymer networks (SPN) provide dynamic adaptability.
  • A need exists for crosslinking strategies that combine the advantages of both CPN and SPN.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce a novel crosslink with a dynamic and woven geometry.
  • To investigate the mechanical properties and performance of polymer networks utilizing these woven crosslinks (WPN).
  • To evaluate the integration of robust and dynamic characteristics in a single polymer network system.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis and characterization of a novel crosslinking agent with woven geometry.
  • Fabrication of polymer networks with woven crosslinks (WPN).
  • Comprehensive mechanical testing including stiffness, strength, toughness, puncture resistance, and anti-fatigue analysis.
  • Assessment of dynamic properties such as mechanical adaptivity, ductility, self-healing, and processability.

Main Results:

  • The WPN demonstrated comparable stiffness, strength, elastic recovery, and anti-fatigue properties to CPN.
  • WPN exhibited significant mechanical adaptivity and ductility, similar to SPN.
  • Exceptional toughness and puncture resistance were observed in WPN, surpassing both CPN and SPN.
  • The dynamic nature of the woven crosslinks facilitated effective self-healing and improved processability.

Conclusions:

  • The developed woven crosslink successfully integrates robust mechanical properties with dynamic characteristics.
  • WPN offers a superior combination of strength, toughness, and self-healing capabilities compared to traditional polymer networks.
  • This innovative crosslinking strategy opens new avenues for designing advanced polymer materials with tailored performance.