Hydrogen-bonding-induced complexation of polydimethylsiloxane-graft-poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(acrylic acid)-block-polyacrylonitrile micelles in water

Synthesis and Characterization of Linear Polyisoprene Supramolecular Elastomers Based on Quadruple Hydrogen Bonding

Supramolecular elastomers based on quaternary hydrogen bonding of ureido-pyrimidinone (UPy) groups own special properties such as reversibility, self-healing, and good processability, which can be used in many special fields. In this paper, a novel type of linear polyisoprene supramolecular elastomer (LPSE) was prepared via anionic polymerization by deliberately introducing hydroxyl, isocyanate, and UPy groups into the ends. The formation of supramolecular structure showed significant effects on the microphase structures of LPSE, which was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Results showed that the introduction of UPy groups played a certain role in the improvement of the thermal stability, toughness, and tensile strength of the elastomer. Moreover, from self-healing tests, the hydrogen bonds of UPy showed dynamic characteristics which were different from covalent sacrificial bonds and exhibited the reassociation phenomenon. This study can not only extend our understanding of the toughening effect of strong hydrogen bonds, but also help us to rationally design new and tough elastomers.

Hydrogen-bonded polymer complexes and nanocages of weak polyacids templated by a Pluronic® block copolymer

We investigate the phase behavior, morphology, and temperature response of hydrogen-bonded assemblies formed by a triblock copolymer Pluronic® F127 (F127) and polycarboxylic acids of varied hydrophobicity and chain lengths. As confirmed by FTIR, the complexes of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) with F127 at acidic pH were stabilized by multiple hydrogen bonding between carboxylic acid groups of polyacids and ether groups of F127. The colloidal stability of the polyacid/F127 complexes (their occurrence as stable dispersions, slowly coagulating dispersions or precipitates) was dependent on the composition of complexes, polyacid molecular weight and hydrophobicity, as well as temperature. For both polyacids, complexes could not be solubilized in excess of polyacids, but excess of F127 resulted in the formation of colloidally stable nanostructured clusters whose size could be controlled from tens to hundreds of nanometers by the polyacid-to-F127 ratio, temperature, and the polyacid molecular weight. Hydrophobicity of polyacids had a dramatic effect on the temperature response of Pluronic®-enriched assemblies. While PMAA suppressed the LCST behavior of F127 due to binding within the temperature-responsive PPO core of F127, more hydrophilic PAA allowed F127 micellization and supported reversible, temperature-induced re-structuring of PAA-F127 clusters. At temperatures above the LCST of Pluronic®, low-molecular-weight PAA formed nanosized dispersed complexes, in which the polyacid chains were wrapped around individual F127 micelles. Chemical crosslinking of PAA in the shells of these complexes followed by removal of the templating F127 cores resulted in easy-to-prepare monodisperse pH-responsive polymer nanocages with controllable size and swelling amplitude.