Polymeric materials comprising disulfide bridges, articles, and methods of making and using same

A method of making an article, the method comprising:

• obtaining a substantially fully cured composition that is a reaction product of a polymerizable mixture, the polymerizable mixture comprising:
• a multifunctional epoxy component;
• a polysulfide component comprising at least one disulfide bridge;
• and
• a base having a sufficiently high basicity to deprotonate an —SH group of the polysulfide component,
• wherein the reaction product is in a form of a polymeric matrix;
• directly contacting the substantially fully cured composition with at least a portion of an exterior surface of an object;
• and
• maintaining the direct contact between the substantially fully cured composition and the exterior surface of the object for a time sufficient for the rearrangement of disulfide bridges to adhere the substantially fully cured composition to the exterior surface of the object.

A method of adhering two objects together, the method comprising:

• obtaining a first article comprising a first object having an exterior surface and a substantially fully cured first composition attached to at least a portion of the exterior surface of the object, the first composition comprising a reaction product of a polymerizable mixture comprising:
• a multifunctional epoxy component;
• a polysulfide component comprising at least one disulfide bridge;
• and a base having a sufficiently high basicity to deprotonate an —SH group of the polysulfide component, wherein the reaction product is in a form of a polymeric matrix;
• obtaining a second article comprising a second object having an exterior surface and a substantially fully cured second composition attached to at least a portion of the exterior surface of the object, the second composition comprising a reaction product of a polymerizable mixture comprising:
• a multifunctional epoxy component;
• a polysulfide component comprising at least one disulfide bridge;
• and a base having a sufficiently high basicity to deprotonate an —SH group of the polysulfide component, wherein the reaction product is in a form of a polymeric matrix;
• directly contacting the substantially fully cured first composition with the substantially fully cured second composition;
• and
• maintaining the direct contact between the substantially fully cured first composition and the substantially fully cured second composition for a time sufficient for the formation of disulfide bridges between the substantially fully cured first composition and the substantially fully cured second composition, thereby adhering the first object and the second object together.

A method of aiding debonding of a first object from a second object, the method comprising:

• obtaining an article comprising a first object having an exterior surface;
• a composition attached to at least a portion of the exterior surface of the first object;
• and a second object adhered to the composition opposite the first object;
• wherein the composition comprises a foaming agent and a reaction product of a polymerizable mixture comprising:
• a multifunctional epoxy component;
• a polysulfide component comprising at least one disulfide bridge;
• and
• a base having a sufficiently high basicity to deprotonate an —SH group of the polysulfide component,
• wherein the reaction product is in a form of a polymeric matrix;
• and
• activating the foaming agent to form a foam composition, thereby decreasing a cohesion within the composition.