Reversible, mechanically interlocked polymeric networks which self-assemble
AssigneeVirginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
InventorsHarry W. Gibson, Caiguo Gong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Polymeric structure involving a first polymer having a linear segment and a second polymer having a macrocyle which is threaded onto said linear segment to form a rotaxane complex. The rotaxane complex is capable of reversibly dissociating back into the individual polymers under the influence of an external factor, such as temperature and/or solvent exposure.
Claims9
A reversible rotaxane polymer network comprising a first polymer including a linear segment and a second polymer including at least one macrocycle bonded to said second polymer, said macrocycle being capable of being physically threaded onto said linear segment to form a rotaxane complex by a first external factor selected from the group consisting of solvent exposure, temperature change and combinations thereof to create a polymer network from said first and second polymers wherein said first and second polymers are joined by said rotaxane complex, said macrocycle being capable of being physically unthreaded from said linear segment by a second external factor selected from the group consisting of solvent exposure, temperature change, and combinations thereof, wherein said linear segment of said first polymer includes one or more of a 4,4'-bipyridinium moiety.
A process for making a reversibly crosslinked polymeric structure, comprising the step of combining a first polymer including a linear segment with a second polymer including a macrocycle in a manner effective to physically thread said macrocycle onto said linear segment to form a rotaxane complex, wherein said rotaxane complex is capable of reversibly dissociating into individual polymers comprised of said first and second polymers upon exposure to an external factor selected from the group consisting of an aprotic solvent, and a temperature increase of 60.degree. C. or greater.
A process for separating a reversibly crosslinked polymeric structure into distinct polymer units wherein said reversibly crosslinked polymer structure comprises a first polymer including a linear segment and a second polymer including at least one macrocycle bonded to said second polymer, said macrocycle being capable of being physically threaded onto said linear segment to form a rotaxane complex by a first external factor selected from the group consisting of solvent exposure, temperature change, and combinations thereof to create a polymer network from said first and second polymers wherein said first and second polymers are joined by said rotaxane complex, said process comprising the step of separating said first and second polymers by exposing said rotaxane complex to an external factor selected from the group consisting of an aprotic solvent, and a temperature increase of 60.degree. C. or greater.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.