High molecular weight polyisobutylenes and polyisobutylene networks from liquid polyisobutylenes by thiol-ene clicking

A method for creating a polyisobutylene-based polymer network, the method comprising:

• providing at least two thiol-terminated polyisobutylene precursor polymers, each polyisobutylene precursor polymer having at least two thiol end groups;
• adding at least one multi-functional allyl-containing precursor moiety or polymer with the at least two polyisobutylene precursor polymers to form a mixture;
• wherein when each polyisobutylene precursor polymer has only two thiol end groups then the allyl-containing precursor moiety or polymer has at least three functional groups, and wherein when the allyl-containing precursor moiety or polymer has two functional groups then each polyisobutylene precursor polymer has at least three thiol end groups;
• and
• irradiating the mixture with light or heating the mixture, so as to provide a thiol-ene reaction, thereby producing the polyisobutylene-based polymer network.