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Published on: May 20, 2019
Revitalizing poly(urea)s via disulfide reconfiguration
Zezhou Zong1, Da-Hui Qu1, He Tian1
1Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Institute of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China.
Researchers developed novel poly(urea)s by incorporating disulfide bonds. These advanced materials offer exceptional strength and reprocessability, overcoming limitations of traditional polymers for high-performance applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Supramolecular Engineering
Background:
- Weak bonds typically form soft materials.
- Supramolecular engineering can create strong materials but often lack robustness at high temperatures due to entropy penalties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop high-performance poly(urea)s with enhanced structural reconfigurability and robustness.
- To investigate the impact of disulfide bonds on poly(urea) properties.
Main Methods:
- Replacing carbon atoms with disulfide bonds in poly(urea)s.
- Analyzing the effects on hydrogen bond assembly, crystallization, and mechanical properties.
- Investigating thermal stability, hardness, solvent resistance, and recyclability.
Main Results:
- Disulfide bonds maintained ordered H-bond assembly while suppressing secondary crystallization.
- Introduced S─S·H─N interactions, enabling chain mobility and reconfiguration below melting temperatures.
- Achieved thermoplastic-like reprocessability with thermoset-like robustness (e.g., >2 GPa storage modulus, 150°C creep resistance, ceramic-like hardness).
- Demonstrated acid-catalyzed depolymerization for closed-loop recyclability.
Conclusions:
- A two-atom structural modification with disulfide bonds revitalizes semicrystalline poly(urea)s.
- These materials exhibit a unique combination of processability and robustness.
- The developed poly(urea)s offer a sustainable solution with closed-loop recyclability.
