Affiliation:
1. State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences Lanzhou 730000 China
2. Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China
3. Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Wear and Protection of Materials Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences Lanzhou 730000 China
Abstract
AbstractDeveloping advanced engineering polymers that combine high strength and toughness represents not only a necessary path to excellence but also a major technical challenge. Here for the first time a rigid‐flexible interlocking polymer (RFIP) is reported featuring remarkable mechanical properties, consisting of flexible polyurethane (PU) and rigid polyimide (PI) chains cleverly woven together around the copper(I) ions center. By rationally weaving PI, PU chains, and copper(I) ions, RFIP exhibits ultra‐high strength (twice that of unwoven polymers, 91.4 ± 3.3 MPa), toughness (448.0 ± 14.2 MJ m−3), fatigue resistance (recoverable after 10 000 cyclic stretches), and shape memory properties. Simulation results and characterization analysis together support the correlation between microstructure and macroscopic features, confirming the greater cohesive energy of the interwoven network and providing insights into strengthening toughening mechanisms. The essence of weaving on the atomic and molecular levels is fused to obtain brilliant and valuable mechanical properties, opening new perspectives in designing robust and stable polymers.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences