Adaptable Crosslinks in Polymeric Materials: Resolving the Intersection of Thermoplastics and Thermosets ‡ ‡ Georg M

Perspective Cite This: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 16181−16196 pubs.acs.org/JACS Adaptable Crosslinks in Polymeric Materials: Resolving the Intersection of Thermoplastics and Thermosets ‡ ‡ Georg M. Scheutz, Jacob J. Lessard, Michael B. Sims, and Brent S. Sumerlin* George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States unrecyclable except through use as filler materials or ABSTRACT: The classical division of polymeric materi- decomposition through specialized chemical approaches.5 als into thermoplastics and thermosets based on covalent Considering the explosive growth of plastics waste resulting network structure often implies that these categories are from difficulties in addressing end-of-life usage of polymeric distinct and irreconcilable. Yet, the past two decades have materials,6,7 there is a pressing need for a new generation of seen extensive development of materials that bridge this materials that can be reprocessed like thermoplastics yet still gap through incorporation of dynamic crosslinks, enabling retain the beneficial properties of a crosslinked thermoset them to behave as both robust networks and moldable material. Such a material could have scarcely been realized by plastics. Although their potential utility is significant, the historical polymer chemistry, but the emergence of covalent growth of covalent adaptable networks (CANs) has adaptable networks (CANs) over the past two decades has “ ” “ obscured the line between thermoplastic and thermo- both highlighted the power of modern polymer chemistry ” set and erected a conceptual barrier to the growing while also challenging the traditional understanding of number of new researchers entering this discipline. This thermoplastics and thermosets. Perspective aims to both outline the fundamental theory Generally, adaptable networks are materials with crosslinks of CANs and provide a critical assessment of their current that are dynamic under specific stimuli, enabling recyclability8 status. We emphasize throughout that the unique while still retaining many of the beneficial properties of properties of CANs emerge from the network chemistry, thermosets.9,10 These dynamic crosslinks can be either and particularly highlight the role that the crosslink covalent bonds that undergo exchange with one another (i.e., exchange mechanism (i.e., dissociative exchange or CANs), or they can also consist of non-covalent interactions associative exchange) plays in the resultant material such as hydrogen bonding, host−guest interactions, or metal− properties under processing conditions. Predominant ligand coordination (i.e., supramolecular adaptable net- − focus will be on thermally induced dynamic behavior, as works).11 14 While we do not wish to understate the utility the majority of presently employed exchange chemistries or elegance of materials crosslinked with supramolecular rely on thermal stimulus, and it is simple to apply to bulk bonds15 (especially considering Nature utilizes many of these materials. Lastly, this Perspective aims to identify current interactions to assemble exquisitely complex biomacromole- issues and address possible solutions for better funda- fi cules), our discussions in this Perspective will focus on CANs mental understanding within this eld. as this crosslinking approach provides an exceptional combination of high mechanical performance, good recycla- Downloaded via UNIV OF FLORIDA on May 29, 2020 at 19:25:55 (UTC). bility, and facile implementation into applications. 1. INTRODUCTION Since the landmark report by Wudl in 2001 on heat-healable − 16 The year 2020 will mark the 100th anniversary of Hermann networks crosslinked with Diels Alder adducts, numerous Staudinger’s revolutionary macromolecular hypothesis, which other reversible reactions and polymerization methods have See https://pubs.acs.org/sharingguidelines for options on how to legitimately share published articles. fi been employed for CAN synthesis, and they are summarized in rst postulated the extended covalent structure of polymers 17−19 and radically reshaped their chemical understanding.1 From several of the excellent reviews on this subject. Bond this foundation, nearly a century of research has led to a exchange typically proceeds by one of two mechanisms: either “ ” profound understanding of how macroscopic properties of a dissociative process in which crosslinks are cleaved into polymeric materials emerge from molecular structure, and how their individual constituent reactive partners before regenerat- “ ” this structure can in turn be manipulated to achieve efficient ing, or an associative process in which a pendent reactive polymer production, processing, and performance.2,3 There is group within the network undergoes a substitution reaction perhaps no clearer example of how structure affects function with an existing crosslink (Figure 1). This latter, associative than in the comparison of thermoplastics, which contain process is characteristic of the recently developed and highly “ ” 20 unlinked polymer chains that may freely reptate throughout exciting vitrimer materials, which exhibit properties that are fi the material, with thermosets, in which covalent crosslinks bind bene cial for many high-performance applications. Yet, the the polymeric matrix into a single molecular unit. Con- rapid pace of recent developments has obscured the previously sequently, thermoplastics can often be readily melted, distinct line between thermoplastics and thermosets, and there deformed, and processed in the molten state,4 whereas have also emerged challenges and misconceptions in thermosets feature exceptional thermal, chemical, and dimen- sional stability due to their permanent network structure. Yet Received: July 24, 2019 this fixity comes at a pricethermosets are virtually Published: September 16, 2019 © 2019 American Chemical Society 16181 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b07922 J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 16181−16196 Journal of the American Chemical Society Perspective 2. DISSOCIATIVE CANs Overview. Dissociative CANs are crosslinked with reversible covalent bonds that, under a stimulus such as light or heat, enter into in an equilibrium between open (dissociated) and closed (associated) states. Bond-breaking events lead to crosslink cleavage, and the network segments bearing the released reactive moieties can then diffuse through the network. After eventually encountering a complementary reactive moiety, the network segments can react and regenerate a crosslink. This repetitive process of dissociation, diffusion, and association, when occurring across an entire material, enables constructive deformation of otherwise unprocessable crosslinked materials. However, the necessity of initial crosslink dissociation imposed by the dissociative exchange mechanism introduces some practical challenges when working with dissociative CANs. As the instantaneous crosslink density Figure 1. Depiction of dissociative and associative bond exchange of the CAN depends on the value of the equilibrium constant pathways for covalent adaptable networks (CANs). between associated and dissociated crosslinks (vide infra), the material properties can be quite sensitive to changes in stimulus and therefore less predictable than associative CANs. Additionally, full recovery of the original network integrity distinguishing dissociative and associative mechanisms of bond together with the mechanical properties of the materialafter exchange in CANs. Our objectives in this Perspective are removal of the stimulus requires all dissociated crosslinks to therefore to highlight the most enticing methods of accessing eventually react and reassociate. In reality, chain rearrange- ment, vitrification, or crosslink degradation can impede full CANs while also summarizing the fundamental properties and crosslink reformation;17 therefore, dissociative CANs often behavior of these materials. We hope that in doing so, we will ff fi exhibit di erent crosslink densities after processing. provide both new and experienced researchers in the eld with Temperature is perhaps the simplest and most universal a thorough sense of the state of the art as well as an stimulus for modifying chemical processes, so it is unsurprising unambiguous understanding of the characteristics of each class that thermoreversible networks are the most common type of of CAN. dissociative covalent adaptable materials. Numerous thermor- Figure 2. Overview of crosslinking chemistries utilized for dissociative covalent adaptable networks. See refs 23 and 24 (1a), 25 and 26 (1b), 30 (2a), 27−29 (2b), 31 and 32 (3a), 33 (3b), 35 (4), 40 (5), 43 and 44 (6a), 45 (6b), and 36 and 37 (7). 16182 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b07922 J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 16181−16196 Journal of the American Chemical Society Perspective eversible crosslinking chemistries for healable and reprocess- depolymerizes to a fluid (either a monomeric mixture or able materials have been explored such as Diels−Alder (DA) polymeric melt depending on the network composition), and − cycloadditions,16,21 24 triazolinedione Alder−ene reac- upon cooling, it reverts back to a solid in a sol-to-gel transition − tions,25,26 hindered urea exchange,27 29 oxime-enabled trans- when the reformation of crosslinks is favored.17 This was carbamoylation,30 1,2,3-triazolium31,32 and anilinium33 trans- illustrated by work from Bowman and co-workers, who alkylation, boronate ester34 and aminal bond35 exchange,

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