Self-healing bio-based furan polymers cross-linked with various bis-maleimides

• Published in: Polymer (Guilford) Vol. 54; no. 20; pp. 5351 - 5357
• Main Authors: Zeng, Chao, Seino, Hidetake, Ren, Jie, Hatanaka, Kenichi, Yoshie, Naoko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 06.09.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bio-based polymer; Chemical reactions and properties; crosslinking; Crosslinking, vulcanization; Diels–Alder reaction; Exact sciences and technology; Healing material; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; polymers; succinic acid; tensile strength; Bio-based polymer; Diels–Alder reaction; Healing material; Ester polymer; Mechanical properties; Diels Alder addition; Crosslinking; Reversible reaction; Experimental study; Diimide; Preparation; Crosslinked polymer; Furan derivative polymer; Polysuccinate; Diels-Alder reaction; Cicatrization; Recovery (properties)
• ISSN: 0032-3861; 1873-2291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2013.07.059

A series of bio-based self-healing polymers was prepared by cross-linking a furan polymer, poly(2,5-furandimethylene succinate), with bis-maleimide compounds by means of Diels–Alder reactions. In addition to the amount of the bis-maleimide linker, the molecular structure of the bis-maleimide played a key role in determining the extent of the Diels–Alder reaction and the mechanical and healing properties of the polymers. Bis-maleimides with phenylene rings markedly enhanced the tensile strength of the network polymers but hindered healing. In contrast, bis-maleimides with a flexible molecular structure tended to improve the polymer elongation, affording polymers with excellent healing ability. The efficiencies of self-healing (=healing without any external stimulus) and healing with an assistance of solvent (CHCl3) were over 70% and 80%, respectively, for the network polymer crosslinked by bis-maleimide with flexible long-alkyl segment. Thus, our results indicate that the choice of bis-maleimide linker is an important factor for designing furan-maleimide–based self-healing polymers. [Display omitted]