Doubly dynamic polymer
networks were synthesized with two distinct
exchangeable cross-linkers. The first linker is highly dynamic and
rapidly exchanging hydrogen bonded 2-ureido-4[1H]-pyrimidinone
(UPy) and the second is a thermoresponsive furan-maleimide Diels–Alder
adduct (FMI). Two network architectures were considered: an interpenetrating
network (IPN) where one network is cross-linked with the UPy linker
and the other is cross-linked with the FMI linker, and a single network
(SN) where both the UPy and FMI linkers are in the same single network.
Remarkably, the IPNs were superior to the SNs with the same composition
of the UPy and FMI cross-linkers when comparing peak stress, strain
at break, fracture toughness, malleability, and self-healing. Both
materials studied were stable and creep resistant under ambient conditions.
Synthesis of precision polymers crosslinked with dynamic thiol-Michael adducts is developed, and the materials are characterized to determine structure–property relationships.
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