Abstract:
Thermo-reversible self-healing of a partially fluorinated crosslinked polymer was achieved by utilizing
reversible Diels–Alder (DA) chemistry. Copolymers (PHFBA-co-PFMA) of perfluorobutyl acrylate (HFBA)
and furfurylmethacrylate (FMA) with controlled stoichiometric ratios were synthesized by microwaveassisted
radical polymerization by controlling the individual components. The microstructures and
stoichiometries of these copolymers of PHFBA and PFMA were analyzed by 1
H, 19F, 13C, and DOSY NMR
spectroscopy and their molecular weights were analyzed by GPC. The glass transitions (Tg) of the
different stoichiometric copolymers correlate well with the estimated Tg values from the Fox equation. A
thermo-reversible crosslinked polymer network was achieved via Diels–Alder (DA) and retro-DA reactions
between the furan moiety of the copolymer (PHFBA-co-PFMA) and bismaleimide; the self-healing ability
of this network was investigated using 1
H NMR, DSC and solution experiments. The self-healing process
and recovery of the crosslinked polymers was screened by microscopic visualization and stress–strain
tensile studies. The surface properties of the fluorous copolymers and crosslinked polymers were studied
by water contact angle measurements, and their mechanical properties were investigated by nanoindentation
and DMA.
