Issue 7, 2022

Polymer–solvent interactions as a tool to engineer material properties

Abstract

Multi-dynamic polymers, materials with multiple reversible cross-linkers, exhibit improved and unexpected properties compared to materials with only one class of dynamic bond due to co-operative self-assembly. To tune the properties of multi-dynamic materials an understanding of the complex nature of these co-operative effects and their self-assembly is essential. As a model multi-dynamic system, we report a doubly dynamic amphiphilic random co-polymer, poly(methacrylate-co-anthracene methacrylate-co-oligoethylene glycol methacrylate), that harnesses π–π interactions, hydrogen bonding, and the hydrophobic effect. Using dynamic mechanical analysis, molecular dynamics simulations, and qualitative solution studies, we present a library of polymers with a remarkable range of elastic properties achieved by simple modification of the incorporated anthracene content and the polymer's environment. We further show that re-assembly due to solvent vapour exposure permanently alters the bulk properties of the material, akin to solvent vapour annealing in block co-polymers.

Graphical abstract: Polymer–solvent interactions as a tool to engineer material properties

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
04 Aug 2021
Accepted
10 Mar 2022
First published
10 Mar 2022

Mol. Syst. Des. Eng., 2022,7, 746-754

Polymer–solvent interactions as a tool to engineer material properties

H. M. Aitken, Z. Jiang, I. Hampton, M. L. O'Mara and L. A. Connal, Mol. Syst. Des. Eng., 2022, 7, 746 DOI: 10.1039/D1ME00111F

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