Abstract
Polymeric materials are usually tailored for specific functionality. A single polymer exhibiting multiple simultaneous functionalities often requires intricate molecular architecture, which is difficult to manufacture at scale because of its complex synthesis routes. Herein, a facile, partly renewable composition―prepared via reactive melt processing―that induces tunable functionalities such as 3D printability, shape recovery, and self-healing while exhibiting satisfactory mechanical properties is reported. The system with a hydrogen-bonded 3D network consists of thermally reversible nano-scale agglomerates of sustainable, rigid phenolic oligomers and crystallizable flexible polymer. Local molecular mobility and temperature-dependent relaxation and recovery of the non-equilibrium networked states enable exploiting these simultaneous functionalities. Transitions involving solidification and structure stabilization at ambient temperature spanning several hours after preheating only at 70 °C directly contrast typical thermoplastic or thermoplastic elastomer behaviors. Results from this study can inform the design of future rheology modifiers and materials for soft robotics.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 2300079 |
| Journal | Advanced Sustainable Systems |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 2023 |
Funding
This research at ORNL was sponsored by the US Department of Energy (DOE)’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, BioEnergy Technologies Office Program. ORNL is managed by UT Battelle, LLC, for DOE under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725. SANS, USANS, and backscattering measurements used resources at ORNL's High Flux Isotope Reactor and SNS. WAXD measurements were performed at ORNL's Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences. These neutron and X-ray facilities are from a DOE Office of Science User Facility operated by ORNL. The authors also thank the Center for High Resolution Neutron Scattering, NIST, a partnership between NIST and the National Science Foundation under Agreement No. DMR-2010792 for some of the backscattering measurements. A.K.N. acknowledges support from US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division for his effort with writing and editing the manuscript. The identification of any commercial product or trade name does not imply endorsement or recommendation by NIST. This research at ORNL was sponsored by the US Department of Energy (DOE)’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, BioEnergy Technologies Office Program. ORNL is managed by UT Battelle, LLC, for DOE under contract DE‐AC05‐00OR22725. SANS, USANS, and backscattering measurements used resources at ORNL's High Flux Isotope Reactor and SNS. WAXD measurements were performed at ORNL's Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences. These neutron and X‐ray facilities are from a DOE Office of Science User Facility operated by ORNL. The authors also thank the Center for High Resolution Neutron Scattering, NIST, a partnership between NIST and the National Science Foundation under Agreement No. DMR‐2010792 for some of the backscattering measurements. A.K.N. acknowledges support from US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division for his effort with writing and editing the manuscript. The identification of any commercial product or trade name does not imply endorsement or recommendation by NIST.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| BioEnergy Technologies | |
| National Science Foundation | DMR‐2010792 |
| U.S. Department of Energy | |
| National Institute of Standards and Technology | |
| Office of Science | |
| Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy | |
| Basic Energy Sciences | |
| Oak Ridge National Laboratory | |
| UT-Battelle | DE‐AC05‐00OR22725 |
Keywords
- lignin
- multi-dimensional materials
- self-healing
- shape memory
- sustainable 3D-printing materials
