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Nie W, Douglas JF, Xia W. Competing Effects of Molecular Additives and Cross-Link Density on the Segmental Dynamics and Mechanical Properties of Cross-Linked Polymers. ACS ENGINEERING AU 2023; 3:512-526. [PMID: 38144677 PMCID: PMC10739619 DOI: 10.1021/acsengineeringau.3c00043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
The introduction of molecular additives into thermosets often results in changes in their dynamics and mechanical properties that can have significant ramifications for diverse applications of this broad class of materials such as coatings, high-performance composites, etc. Currently, there is limited fundamental understanding of how such additives influence glass formation in these materials, a problem of broader significance in glass-forming materials. To address this fundamental problem, here, we employ a simplified coarse-grained (CG) model of a polymer network as a model of thermoset materials and then introduce a polymer additive having the same inherent rigidity and polymer-polymer interaction strength as the cross-linked polymer matrix. This energetically "neutral" or "self-plasticizing" additive model gives rise to non-trivial changes in the dynamics of glass formation and provides an important theoretical reference point for the technologically more important case of interacting additives. Based on this rather idealized model, we systematically explore the combined effect of varying the additive mass percentage (m) and cross-link density (c) on the segmental relaxation dynamics and mechanical properties of a model thermoset material with additives. We find that increasing the additive mass percentage m progressively decreases both the glass-transition temperature Tg and the fragility of glass formation, a trend opposite to increasing c so that these thermoset variables clearly have a competing effect on glass formation in these model materials. Moreover, basic mechanical properties (i.e., bulk, shear, and tensile moduli) likewise exhibit a competitive variation with the increase of m and c, which are strongly correlated with the Debye-Waller parameter ⟨u2⟩, a measure of material stiffness at a molecular scale. Our findings prove beneficial in the development of structure-property relationships for the cross-linked polymers, which could help guide the design of such network materials with tailored physical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjian Nie
- Department
of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58108, United States
| | - Jack F. Douglas
- Materials
Science and Engineering Division, National
Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Wenjie Xia
- Department
of Aerospace Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
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2
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Jin B, Wang H, Xu H, Wu H, Wu W, Yuan Z, Huang Z, Wang Y, Wu J. Bio-inspired nacre-like composites with excellent mechanical properties, gas-barrier function and fire-retardant performances based on self-assembly between hyperbranched poly(amido amine)s and montmorillonite. RSC Adv 2023; 13:3661-3668. [PMID: 36756571 PMCID: PMC9890961 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra07647k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The fabrication of mechanically robust multifunctional nanocomposite (NC) films using simple but effective strategies is a long-term challenge. Inspired by natural nacre, we designed and fabricated high-performance nacre-like NC films (Na-MTM/HBP) through the self-assembly of the hyperbranched poly(amido amine) (HBP) and montmorillonite (Na-MTM) using a vacuum filtration approach. The optimal Na-MTM/HBP NC film shows excellent mechanical strength (106 MPa), which can be attributed to the formation of numerous hydrogen bonds and the electrostatic interactions between hyperbranched HBP and Na-MTM nanosheets. Such films also exhibit excellent gas barrier and fire-fire-retardant owing to the high aspect ratio of the Na-MTM nanosheets. In this work, a class of high-performance NC films exhibiting good mechanical, gas barrier, and flame retardancy properties have been developed. These NC films have great potential in packing or coating materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biqiang Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University Chengdu 610065 China
- College of Science, Xichang University Xichang 615000 China
| | - Hao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University Chengdu 610065 China
| | - Hu Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University Chengdu 610065 China
| | - Haitao Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University Chengdu 610065 China
| | - Wenqiang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University Chengdu 610065 China
| | - Zhaoyang Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University Chengdu 610065 China
| | - Zhendong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University Chengdu 610065 China
| | - Yinghan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University Chengdu 610065 China
| | - Jinrong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University Chengdu 610065 China
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3
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Zheng X, Guo Y, Douglas JF, Xia W. Understanding the role of cross-link density in the segmental dynamics and elastic properties of cross-linked thermosets. J Chem Phys 2022; 157:064901. [PMID: 35963735 DOI: 10.1063/5.0099322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cross-linking is known to play a pivotal role in the relaxation dynamics and mechanical properties of thermoset polymers, which are commonly used in structural applications because of their light weight and inherently strong nature. Here, we employ a coarse-grained (CG) polymer model to systematically explore the effect of cross-link density on basic thermodynamic properties as well as corresponding changes in the segmental dynamics and elastic properties of these network materials upon approaching their glass transition temperatures (Tg). Increasing the cross-link density unsurprisingly leads to a significant slowing down of the segmental dynamics, and the fragility K of glass formation shifts in lockstep with Tg, as often found in linear polymer melts when the polymer mass is varied. As a consequence, the segmental relaxation time τα becomes almost a universal function of reduced temperature, (T - Tg)/Tg, a phenomenon that underlies the applicability of the "universal" Williams-Landel-Ferry (WLF) relation to many polymer materials. We also test a mathematical model of the temperature dependence of the linear elastic moduli based on a simple rigidity percolation theory and quantify the fluctuations in the local stiffness of the network material. The moduli and distribution of the local stiffness likewise exhibit a universal scaling behavior for materials having different cross-link densities but fixed (T - Tg)/Tg. Evidently, Tg dominates both τα and the mechanical properties of our model cross-linked polymer materials. Our work provides physical insights into how the cross-link density affects glass formation, aiding in the design of cross-linked thermosets and other structurally complex glass-forming materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangrui Zheng
- Department of Mechanics, School of Physical Science and Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Yafang Guo
- Department of Mechanics, School of Physical Science and Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Jack F Douglas
- Materials Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA
| | - Wenjie Xia
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58108, USA
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4
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Su L, Shu L, Shi B, Hang Y, Huang J. Construction of Enhanced Photostability Anthraquinone-Type Nanovesicles Based on a Novel Two-Step Supramolecular Assembly Strategy and Their Application on Multiband Laser-Responsive Composites. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:43458-43472. [PMID: 34464092 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c14352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The photostability and dispersity under aggregation states always become an obstacle for the development of small-molecular organic dye (SMOD) composites. Herein, a novel supramolecular assembly strategy with a two-step assembly method is implemented to encapsulate SMODs for improving their photostability and acquiring uniformly dispersed nanoaggregates in aqueous solution. By the novel assembly strategy, photodegradation rates of the anthraquinone-type dyes can decrease significantly, and the stability of dispersed nanoassembly bodies can be improved in solution. Based on the two-step supramolecular assembly strategy, a new kind of aqueous processing composite system can be developed for preparing multiband laser-responsive devices and in situ healing of optical composite films. This two-step supramolecular assembly strategy can provide a new template and reference for improving the defects of SMODs and fabricating high-performance optical devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Su
- Institute of Advanced Synthesis, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Lan Shu
- Institute of Advanced Synthesis, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Binbin Shi
- Institute of Advanced Synthesis, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Yixiao Hang
- Institute of Advanced Synthesis, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Jin Huang
- Institute of Advanced Synthesis, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
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5
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Huang J, Wróblewska AA, Steinkoenig J, Maes S, Du Prez FE. Assembling Lipoic Acid and Nanoclay into Nacre-Mimetic Nanocomposites. Macromolecules 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c00281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Huang
- Polymer Chemistry Research group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S4-bis, Ghent B-9000, Belgium
- Department of Polymer Materials and Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Aleksandra Alicja Wróblewska
- Polymer Chemistry Research group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S4-bis, Ghent B-9000, Belgium
| | - Jan Steinkoenig
- Polymer Chemistry Research group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S4-bis, Ghent B-9000, Belgium
| | - Stephan Maes
- Polymer Chemistry Research group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S4-bis, Ghent B-9000, Belgium
| | - Filip E. Du Prez
- Polymer Chemistry Research group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S4-bis, Ghent B-9000, Belgium
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6
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Lossada F, Jiao D, Hoenders D, Walther A. Recyclable and Light-Adaptive Vitrimer-Based Nacre-Mimetic Nanocomposites. ACS NANO 2021; 15:5043-5055. [PMID: 33630585 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c10001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Nacre's natural design consists of a perfect hierarchical assembly that resembles a brick-and-mortar structure with synergistic stiffness and toughness. The field of bioinspired materials often provides attractive architecture and engineering pathways which allow to explore outstanding property areas. However, the study of nacre-mimetic materials should not be limited to the design of its architecture but ought to include the understanding, operation, and improvement of internal interactions between their components. Here, we introduce a vitrimer prepolymer system that, once integrated into the nacre-mimetic nanocomposites, cures and cross-links with the presence of Lewis acid catalyst and further manifests associative dynamic exchange reactions. Bond exchanges are controllable by molecular composition and catalyst content and characterized by creep, shear-lag, and shape-locking tests. We exploit the vitrimer properties by laminating ca. 70 films into thick bulk materials, and characterize the flexural resistance and crack propagation. More importantly, we introduce recycling by grinding and hot-pressing. The recycling for highly reinforced nacre-mimetic nanocomposites is critically enabled by the vitrimer chemistry and improves the sustainability of bioinspired nanocomposites in cyclic economy. Finally, we integrate photothermal converters into the structures and use laser irradiation as external trigger to activate the vitrimer exchange reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Lossada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Dejin Jiao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Daniel Hoenders
- Department of Chemistry, University of Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Andreas Walther
- Department of Chemistry, University of Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS at FIT, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, D-79110 Freiburg, Germany
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7
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Yao X, Wang J, Jiao D, Huang Z, Mhirsi O, Lossada F, Chen L, Haehnle B, Kuehne AJC, Ma X, Tian H, Walther A. Room-Temperature Phosphorescence Enabled through Nacre-Mimetic Nanocomposite Design. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2005973. [PMID: 33346394 PMCID: PMC11468592 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202005973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A generic, facile, and waterborne strategy is introduced to fabricate flexible, low-cost nanocomposite films with room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) by incorporating waterborne RTP polymers into self-assembled bioinspired polymer/nanoclay nanocomposites. The excellent oxygen barrier of the lamellar nanoclay structure suppresses the quenching effect from ambient oxygen (kq ) and broadens the choice of polymer matrices towards lower glass transition temperature (Tg ), while providing better mechanical properties and processability. Moreover, the oxygen permeation and diffusion inside the films can be fine-tuned by varying the polymer/nanoclay ratio, enabling programmable retention times of the RTP signals, which is exploited for transient information storage and anti-counterfeiting materials. Additionally, anti-interception materials are showcased by tracing the interception-induced oxygen history that interferes with the preset self-erasing time. Merging bioinspired nanocomposite design with RTP materials contributes to overcoming the inherent limitations of molecular design of organic RTP compounds, and allows programmable temporal features to be added into RTP materials by controlled mesostructures. This will assist in paving the way for practical applications of RTP materials as novel anti-counterfeiting materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuyang Yao
- ABMS Lab‐ActiveAdaptive and Autonomous Bioinspired MaterialsInstitute for Macromolecular ChemistryUniversity of FreiburgStefan‐Meier‐Straße 31Freiburg79104Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF)University of FreiburgStefan‐Meier‐Straße 21Freiburg79104Germany
- Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS)University of FreiburgAlbertstraße 19Freiburg79104Germany
| | - Jie Wang
- ABMS Lab‐ActiveAdaptive and Autonomous Bioinspired MaterialsInstitute for Macromolecular ChemistryUniversity of FreiburgStefan‐Meier‐Straße 31Freiburg79104Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF)University of FreiburgStefan‐Meier‐Straße 21Freiburg79104Germany
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringFeringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research CenterInstitute of Fine ChemicalsSchool of Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringEast China University of Science and Technology130 Meilong RoadShanghai200237China
| | - Dejin Jiao
- ABMS Lab‐ActiveAdaptive and Autonomous Bioinspired MaterialsInstitute for Macromolecular ChemistryUniversity of FreiburgStefan‐Meier‐Straße 31Freiburg79104Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF)University of FreiburgStefan‐Meier‐Straße 21Freiburg79104Germany
| | - Zizhao Huang
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringFeringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research CenterInstitute of Fine ChemicalsSchool of Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringEast China University of Science and Technology130 Meilong RoadShanghai200237China
| | - Oumaima Mhirsi
- ABMS Lab‐ActiveAdaptive and Autonomous Bioinspired MaterialsInstitute for Macromolecular ChemistryUniversity of FreiburgStefan‐Meier‐Straße 31Freiburg79104Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF)University of FreiburgStefan‐Meier‐Straße 21Freiburg79104Germany
| | - Francisco Lossada
- ABMS Lab‐ActiveAdaptive and Autonomous Bioinspired MaterialsInstitute for Macromolecular ChemistryUniversity of FreiburgStefan‐Meier‐Straße 31Freiburg79104Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF)University of FreiburgStefan‐Meier‐Straße 21Freiburg79104Germany
| | - Lisa Chen
- Institute of Organic and Macromolecular ChemistryUlm UniversityAlbert‐Einstein‐Allee 11Ulm89081Germany
| | - Bastian Haehnle
- Institute of Organic and Macromolecular ChemistryUlm UniversityAlbert‐Einstein‐Allee 11Ulm89081Germany
| | - Alexander J. C. Kuehne
- Institute of Organic and Macromolecular ChemistryUlm UniversityAlbert‐Einstein‐Allee 11Ulm89081Germany
| | - Xiang Ma
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringFeringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research CenterInstitute of Fine ChemicalsSchool of Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringEast China University of Science and Technology130 Meilong RoadShanghai200237China
| | - He Tian
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringFeringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research CenterInstitute of Fine ChemicalsSchool of Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringEast China University of Science and Technology130 Meilong RoadShanghai200237China
| | - Andreas Walther
- ABMS Lab‐ActiveAdaptive and Autonomous Bioinspired MaterialsInstitute for Macromolecular ChemistryUniversity of FreiburgStefan‐Meier‐Straße 31Freiburg79104Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF)University of FreiburgStefan‐Meier‐Straße 21Freiburg79104Germany
- Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS)University of FreiburgAlbertstraße 19Freiburg79104Germany
- Present address:
Department of ChemistryUniversity of MainzMainz55128Germany
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