posted on 2023-11-03, 16:35authored bySojung Seo, Jin-Woo Park, Dong-Gyun Kim, Ji-Hun Seo
In this study, the effects of zigzag hydrogen bonding
and slidable
cross-linking on the design of stretchable elastomers were explored.
Poly(ether-thiourea) (TU), capable of generating strong zigzag hydrogen
bonds without crystallization, was introduced as the main chain in
the non-cross-linked region of the developed elastomer. Consequently,
the toughness of the TU-based elastomer was 14 times higher than that
of elastomers formed using linear poly(ethylene glycol), despite the
relatively low molecular weight of TU (∼3k). When a slidable
polyrotaxane cross-linker was introduced into the TU-based elastomer,
its flexibility became twice as high as that of the rigid polymer
cross-linker. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the elastomer
were prevented from deterioration against repeated deformation under
the limited strain condition of 150%.