Controllable growth of interpenetrating or random copolymer networks

Interpenetrating and random copolymer networks are vital in a number of industrial applications, including the fabrication of automotive parts, damping materials, and tissue engineering scaffolds. We develop a theoretical model for a process that enables the controlled growth of interpenetrating net...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Soft matter 2021-08, Vol.17 (3), p.7177-7187
Main Authors: Chatterjee, Rayan, Biswas, Santidan, Yashin, Victor V, Aizenberg, Michael, Aizenberg, Joanna, Balazs, Anna C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alliances
Automotive engineering
Automotive parts
Copolymers
Crosslinking
Damping
Elastic properties
Fabrication
Gels
Industrial applications
Interpenetrating networks
Mechanical properties
Monomers
Networks
Polymers
Stability
Tissue engineering
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Summary:Interpenetrating and random copolymer networks are vital in a number of industrial applications, including the fabrication of automotive parts, damping materials, and tissue engineering scaffolds. We develop a theoretical model for a process that enables the controlled growth of interpenetrating network (IPNs), or a random copolymer network (RCN) of specified size and mechanical properties. In this process, a primary gel "seed" is immersed into a solution containing the secondary monomer and crosslinkers. After the latter species are absorbed into the primary network, the absorbed monomers are polymerized to form the secondary polymer chains, which then can undergo further crosslinking to form an IPN, or undergo inter-chain exchange with the existing network to form a RCN. The swelling and elastic properties of the IPN and RCN networks can be tailored by modifying the monomer and crosslinker concentrations in the surrounding solution, or by tuning the enthalpic interactions between the primary polymer, secondary monomer and solvent through a proper choice of chemistry. This process can be used repeatedly to fabricate gels with a range of mechanical properties from stiff, rigid materials to soft, flexible networks, allowing the method to meet the materials requirements of a variety of applications. Interpenetrating and random copolymer networks, vital in a number of industrial applications, including the fabrication of automotive parts, damping materials, and tissue engineering scaffolds, can be grown from an initial primary gel seed.
ISSN:1744-683X
1744-6848
DOI:10.1039/d1sm00611h