Herein, we report a network of maleic
anhydride-grafted ethylene
propylene rubber (M-EPM) cross-linked by the coordination complexes
that combines high tensile strength, high stretchability, and reprocessability
aspects. At appropriate temperatures, coordination cross-linked M-EPM
rubber can be easily reprocessed without compromising physical properties.
At first, we demonstrate the synthesis and characterization of coordination
complexes of two types of amino acids, that is, l-lysine
and l-tryptophan, which form a complex with Cu(II) ion through
their respective amino acid group. As followed by various analyses,
these complexes of l-lysine and l-tryptophan exhibit
a distinct behavior after incorporation into M-EPM rubber. The copper–ligand
bonds can easily break and reform, while the copper center remains
attached to the amino acid ligands through a stronger interaction
with the carboxylic group, which enables the highly dynamic stress-induced
ion exchange process. This notion is firmly endorsed by the enhanced
physicomechanical attributes of M-EPM rubber and the recyclability
aspect.