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Block Copolymer Networks Composed of Poly(ε-caprolactone) and Polyethylene with Triple Shape Memory Properties

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Abstract

In this contribution, we reported a novel synthesis of block copolymer networks composed of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and polyethylene (PE) via the co-hydrolysis and condensation of α, ω)-ditriethoxylsilane-terminated PCL and PE telechelics. First, α, ω)-dihydroxyl-terminated PCL and PE telechelics were synthesized via the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone and the ring-opening metathesis polymerization of cyclooctene followed by hydrogenation of polycyclooctene. Both α, ω)-ditriethoxylsilane-terminated PCL and PE telechelics were obtained via in situ reaction of α, ω-dihydroxyl-terminated PCL and PE telechelics with 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane. The formation of networks was evidenced by the solubility and rheological tests. It was found that the block copolymer networks were microphase-separated. The PCL and PE blocks still preserved the crystallinity. Owing to the formation of crosslinked networks, the materials displayed shape memory properties. More importantly, the combination of PCL with PE resulted that the block copolymer networks had the triple shape memory properties, which can be triggered with the melting and crystallization of PCL and PE blocks. The results reported in this work demonstrated that triple shape memory polymers could be prepared via the formation of block copolymer networks.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their thanks to the National Natural Science Foundation of China for the financial supports of this work (Nos. 51973113, 51133003 and 21774078).

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  1. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and the State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China

    Honggang Mei, Bingjie Zhao, Yuan Gao, Lei Li, Liyue Liu & Sixun Zheng

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  1. Honggang Mei
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  2. Bingjie Zhao
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  3. Yuan Gao
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  4. Lei Li
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  5. Liyue Liu
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Correspondence to Sixun Zheng.

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Mei, H., Zhao, B., Gao, Y. et al. Block Copolymer Networks Composed of Poly(ε-caprolactone) and Polyethylene with Triple Shape Memory Properties. Chin J Polym Sci 40, 185–196 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-022-2652-1

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