Generation of One-Dimensional Fibrous Polyethylene Nanocrystals in Epoxy Thermosets
The one-dimensional (1D) polyethylene (PE) nanocrystals were generated in epoxy thermosets via crystallization-driven self-assembly. Toward this end, an ABA triblock copolymer composed of PE midblock and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) endblocks was synthesized via the ring opening metathesis polymerizat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/18/3921 |
| _version_ | 1797483198211424256 |
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| author | Honggang Mei Huaming Wang Lei Li Sixun Zheng |
| author_facet | Honggang Mei Huaming Wang Lei Li Sixun Zheng |
| author_sort | Honggang Mei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The one-dimensional (1D) polyethylene (PE) nanocrystals were generated in epoxy thermosets via crystallization-driven self-assembly. Toward this end, an ABA triblock copolymer composed of PE midblock and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) endblocks was synthesized via the ring opening metathesis polymerization followed by hydrogenation approach. The nanostructured thermosets were obtained via a two-step curing approach, i.e., the samples were cured first at 80 °C and then at 150 °C. Under this condition, the one-dimensional (1D) fibrous PE microdomains with the lengths up to a couple of micrometers were created in epoxy thermosets. In contrast, only the spherical PE microdomains were generated while the thermosets were cured via a one-step curing at 150 °C. By the use of the triblock copolymer, the generation of 1D fibrous PE nanocrystals is attributable to crystallization-driven self-assembly mechanism whereas that of the spherical PE microdomains follows traditional self-assembly mechanism. Compared to the thermosets containing the spherical PE microdomains, the thermosets containing the 1D fibrous PE nanocrystals displayed quite different thermal and mechanical properties. More importantly, the nanostructured thermosets containing the 1D fibrous PE nanocrystals displayed the fracture toughness much higher than those only containing the spherical PE nanocrystals; the K<sub>IC</sub> value was even three times as that of control epoxy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:44:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5f1c503706de4836b901c042c4696542 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:44:29Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-5f1c503706de4836b901c042c46965422023-11-23T18:32:14ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602022-09-011418392110.3390/polym14183921Generation of One-Dimensional Fibrous Polyethylene Nanocrystals in Epoxy ThermosetsHonggang Mei0Huaming Wang1Lei Li2Sixun Zheng3College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and the State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and the State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and the State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and the State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaThe one-dimensional (1D) polyethylene (PE) nanocrystals were generated in epoxy thermosets via crystallization-driven self-assembly. Toward this end, an ABA triblock copolymer composed of PE midblock and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) endblocks was synthesized via the ring opening metathesis polymerization followed by hydrogenation approach. The nanostructured thermosets were obtained via a two-step curing approach, i.e., the samples were cured first at 80 °C and then at 150 °C. Under this condition, the one-dimensional (1D) fibrous PE microdomains with the lengths up to a couple of micrometers were created in epoxy thermosets. In contrast, only the spherical PE microdomains were generated while the thermosets were cured via a one-step curing at 150 °C. By the use of the triblock copolymer, the generation of 1D fibrous PE nanocrystals is attributable to crystallization-driven self-assembly mechanism whereas that of the spherical PE microdomains follows traditional self-assembly mechanism. Compared to the thermosets containing the spherical PE microdomains, the thermosets containing the 1D fibrous PE nanocrystals displayed quite different thermal and mechanical properties. More importantly, the nanostructured thermosets containing the 1D fibrous PE nanocrystals displayed the fracture toughness much higher than those only containing the spherical PE nanocrystals; the K<sub>IC</sub> value was even three times as that of control epoxy.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/18/3921epoxyblock copolymercrystallization-driven self-assemblynanostructurestoughness improvement |
| spellingShingle | Honggang Mei Huaming Wang Lei Li Sixun Zheng Generation of One-Dimensional Fibrous Polyethylene Nanocrystals in Epoxy Thermosets Polymers epoxy block copolymer crystallization-driven self-assembly nanostructures toughness improvement |
| title | Generation of One-Dimensional Fibrous Polyethylene Nanocrystals in Epoxy Thermosets |
| title_full | Generation of One-Dimensional Fibrous Polyethylene Nanocrystals in Epoxy Thermosets |
| title_fullStr | Generation of One-Dimensional Fibrous Polyethylene Nanocrystals in Epoxy Thermosets |
| title_full_unstemmed | Generation of One-Dimensional Fibrous Polyethylene Nanocrystals in Epoxy Thermosets |
| title_short | Generation of One-Dimensional Fibrous Polyethylene Nanocrystals in Epoxy Thermosets |
| title_sort | generation of one dimensional fibrous polyethylene nanocrystals in epoxy thermosets |
| topic | epoxy block copolymer crystallization-driven self-assembly nanostructures toughness improvement |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/18/3921 |
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