A healable supramolecular polymer blend based on aromatic pi-pi stacking and hydrogen-bonding interactions

J Am Chem Soc. 2010 Sep 1;132(34):12051-8. doi: 10.1021/ja104446r.

Abstract

An elastomeric, healable, supramolecular polymer blend comprising a chain-folding polyimide and a telechelic polyurethane with pyrenyl end groups is compatibilized by aromatic pi-pi stacking between the pi-electron-deficient diimide groups and the pi-electron-rich pyrenyl units. This interpolymer interaction is the key to forming a tough, healable, elastomeric material. Variable-temperature FTIR analysis of the bulk material also conclusively demonstrates the presence of hydrogen bonding, which complements the pi-pi stacking interactions. Variable-temperature SAXS analysis shows that the healable polymeric blend has a nanophase-separated morphology and that the X-ray contrast between the two types of domain increases with increasing temperature, a feature that is repeatable over several heating and cooling cycles. A fractured sample of this material reproducibly regains more than 95% of the tensile modulus, 91% of the elongation to break, and 77% of the modulus of toughness of the pristine material.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Imides / chemical synthesis
  • Imides / chemistry*
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemical synthesis
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Polyurethanes / chemical synthesis
  • Polyurethanes / chemistry*
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Imides
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Polyurethanes