Chemistry of Sulfur Chain and Design of Dynamic Soft Materials Using Rotaxane Effect of Rotaxane-Crosslink (1)

Abstract

In this review, we would like to discuss on the effect of rotaxane-crosslink on the toughening of crosslinked polymer, which is obtained by copolymerization of two-vinyl group-tethering rotaxane crosslinker (RC) with a typical vinyl monomer such as n-butyl acrylate. Rotaxane-crosslinked polymer (RCP) always showed higher mechanical property than covalently crosslinked polymer (CCP). As for the effect of movable distance of the wheel component along the axle component, RCP obtained from longer axle-possessing RC showed higher toughness than that from shorter one. Meanwhile, rotaxane crosslinkers having thickness-different axle components were prepared to evaluate the effect of actual mobility on the mechanical property. RCPs derived from RC consisting of higher mobile components showed toughness stronger than that derived from RC with lower mobile components. The effect of the rotaxane crosslink on the toughening of crosslinked polymer was accounted for the high mobility and freedom of the rotaxane components, while the toughening mechanism was studied on the basis of timing of the transition from Affine deformation to Non-Affine deformation caused by the rotaxane crosslink.