Mechanically triggered heterolytic unzipping of a low-ceiling-temperature polymer
| Autor: | Scott R. White, Andrew J. Boydston, Joshua A. Kaitz, Brendan D. Mar, Todd J. Martínez, Heather J. Kulik, Charles E. Diesendruck, Gregory I. Peterson, Jeffrey S. Moore, Preston A. May |
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| Rok vydání: | 2013 |
| Předmět: |
chemistry.chemical_classification
Depolymerization Polymers General Chemical Engineering Temperature General Chemistry Polymer Molecular Dynamics Simulation Smart material Heterolysis Ceiling temperature Polymerization chemistry.chemical_compound Molecular dynamics Monomer Chemical engineering chemistry Polymer chemistry |
| Zdroj: | Nature chemistry. 6(7) |
| ISSN: | 1755-4349 |
| Popis: | Biological systems rely on recyclable materials resources such as amino acids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. When biomaterials are damaged as a result of aging or stress, tissues undergo repair by a depolymerization-repolymerization sequence of remodelling. Integration of this concept into synthetic materials systems may lead to devices with extended lifetimes. Here, we show that a metastable polymer, end-capped poly(o-phthalaldehyde), undergoes mechanically initiated depolymerization to revert the material to monomers. Trapping experiments and steered molecular dynamics simulations are consistent with a heterolytic scission mechanism. The obtained monomer was repolymerized by a chemical initiator, effectively completing a depolymerization-repolymerization cycle. By emulating remodelling of biomaterials, this model system suggests the possibility of smart materials where aging or mechanical damage triggers depolymerization, and orthogonal conditions regenerate the polymer when and where necessary. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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