Host-guest interaction in polymeric materials can expand lifetime of the materials. Mixing host polymers and guest polymer is an attractive and simple method for industrial field to involve host-guest interaction. However, an issue has limited the spread of the method. Steric hinderance of the polymeric chains interrupts molecular recognition between the host and guest molecules. Therefore, only mechanically weak materials have been obtained via mixing polymers. Host polymers and guest polymers were obtained via bulk polymerization of ethyl acrylate and acetylated cyclodextrin monomer; ethyl acrylate and adamantane monomer, respectively (Figure a). Obtained host and guest polymers were mixed by three different mixing methods: casting, kneading, and ball milling, using different mixing power. Polymeric materials prepared by casting that uses the weakest mixing power exhibited the highest Young’s modulus and lowest fracture energy. On the other hand, polymeric materials by ball milling that uses the strongest mixing power showed the lowest Young’s modulus and highest fracture energy. Comprehensive understanding based on the results of the tensile tests, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy, and Small X-ray scattering suggests that ball milling increases polymeric chain mobilities decreasing polymeric entanglements. The increased molecular mobility enables rapid self-healing (Figure b) and recycling (Figure c and d) as well as toughening. Furthermore, a relation between mechanical properties and healing properties was revealed.

Fast self-healable and recylable polymeric materials based on host-guest interaction and planetary ball milling

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.