A novel rubber cross-linked by supramolecular interactions

摘要

The most common way of rubbers to obtain high performance is vulcanization, by which the linear macromolecules are cross-linked into three-dimensional networks. A novel concept of "self-assembled rubbers" was brought forward for the first time in this paper. A kind of stronger supramolecular interaction, coordinate bonds, were introduced into rubber materials. Raw rubbers containing co-ordinatable groups such as carboxylic groups and nitrile gourps were cross-linked with metal cations by coordinate bonds. The self-assembled rubbers not only have higher performances than vulcanized rubbers, but also have good adhesive properties with metal materials. Moreover, the self-assembly rubbers cross-linking by suparmolecular interactions are reversible materials. The cross-links of self-assembled rubbers could be destroyed and changed into the original linear macromolecules due to the energy of coordination bonding is smaller than that of covalent bonding. This key attribute may realize the recycle of rubbers, which is very important for environment production.