[en] The synthesis and properties of hybrid poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL)–poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) covalent adaptable networks have been investigated. This novel material uniquely combines recycling and reconfiguration capabilities with temperature and water-triggered shape-memory properties. Firstly, 4-arm star-shaped PEO and PCL were end-capped with furan and maleimide moieties, respectively. Then, equimolar mixtures of these cross-reactive stars were melt-blended and cured leading to PCL–PEO hybrid networks by Diels–Alder addition between chain-ends. The PCL/PEO content of the networks was varied by using PCL stars of different molar masses allowing tailoring the material hydrophilicity. We evidenced that the as-obtained hybrid networks exhibit not only excellent temperature-triggered shape-memory properties (high fixity and high and rapid recovery) but also valuable water-triggered shape-memory properties characterized by a high fixity and a recovery-rate controlled by the network composition. Remarkably, thanks to the introduction of thermo-reversible Diels–Alder adducts within the covalent network, we demonstrated that this material can be easily recycled while preserving the shape-memory performances. Therefore, the reconfiguration of the so-called permanent shape is straightforward making this material a potential candidate for applications in water responsive medical devices. The hydrolytic stability of these networks was demonstrated over a period
Research center :
Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM), Belgium Complex and Entangled Systems from Atoms to Materials (CESAM) Research Unit, Belgium
Disciplines :
Materials science & engineering Chemistry
Author, co-author :
Caprasse, Jérémie ; University of Liège (ULiège), Complex and Entangled Systems from Atoms to Materials (CESAM) Research Unit, Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM), Belgium
Riva, Raphaël ; University of Liège (ULiège), Complex and Entangled Systems from Atoms to Materials (CESAM) Research Unit, Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM), Belgium
Thomassin, Jean-Michel ; University of Liège (ULiège), Complex and Entangled Systems from Atoms to Materials (CESAM) Research Unit, Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM), Belgium
Jérôme, Christine ; University of Liège (ULiège), Complex and Entangled Systems from Atoms to Materials (CESAM) Research Unit, Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM), Belgium
Language :
English
Title :
Hybrid covalent adaptable networks from cross-reactive poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(ethylene oxide) stars towards advanced shape-memory materials
Publication date :
07 November 2021
Journal title :
Materials Advances
eISSN :
2633-5409
Publisher :
Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Volume :
2
Issue :
21
Pages :
7077-7087
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Name of the research project :
The Walloon Region of Belgium in the frame of the ‘‘Wallonie-2020.EU’’ program The "PROSTEM" and "SMARTDIF" projects Interreg Euregio Meuse-Rhine in the frame of the "IN FLOW" project
Funders :
FEDER - Fonds Européen de Développement Régional [BE] Walloon region [BE]