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Updated: Mar 20, 2026

Fabrication of Magnetic Platforms for Micron-Scale Organization of Interconnected Neurons
Published on: July 14, 2021
Synergistic electronic-topological strategy enables spatiotemporal control of covalent adaptable networks
Hongfei Huang1,2, Lijie Sun3,4, Yalin Zhang1
1State Key Laboratory of Advanced Fiber Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Research Base of Textile Materials for Flexible Electronics and Biomedical Applications (China Textile Engineering Society), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Lightweight Composite, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
Abstract:
Covalent adaptable networks (CANs) hold considerable promise for combining the advantages of thermosets and thermoplastics. However, their use in high-speed melt spinning is restricted by insufficient dynamic bond reactivity at processing temperatures and the mismatch between network rearrangement kinetics and industrial requirements. Here, we establish a spatiotemporally regulated platform based on internally catalyzed oxime-urethane chemistry within a four-arm cross-linking topology. Neighboring urea groups provide internal catalysis that greatly accelerates oxime-urethane dissociation at 110°C, improving melt fluidity. During extrusion, the slight temperature drop rapidly drives bond recombination within the four-arm topology, while hydrogen bonds deliver immediate reinforcement to retain melt strength. This synergistic design enables continuous melt spinning at 100 meters per minute over a short 10-centimeter distance. The resulting fibers combine high mechanical performance (tensile strength: 261.7 megapascals; toughness: 630.1 megajoules per cubic meter) with excellent stretchability, self-healing, and recyclability. This molecular engineering approach overcomes the processing-performance tradeoff in CANs, offering a scalable pathway toward high-performance, sustainable polymers for industrial manufacturing.
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