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Reinforced silica-epoxy vitrimer nanocomposites have been made in a solvent-free, easily processable, and economical way with filler contents up to 40 wt %. Increasing silica content leads to higher modulus materials in both glassy and rubbery regions. These nanocomposites are insoluble like permanent cross-linked networks but can completely relax stresses by thermoactivated exchange reactions that rearrange the network topology. Furthermore, the surface functionalization of particles improves the dispersion of fillers and accelerates the relaxation process. Similar results were obtained with industrial precipitated silica, which would allow vitrimer nanocomposites to be produced on an industrial scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method is proposed to produce nanoparticles dispersible and recyclable in any class of solvents, and the concept is illustrated with the carbon nanotubes. Classically, dispersions of CNTs can be achieved through steric stabilization induced by adsorbed or grafted polymer chains. Yet, the surface modification of CNTs surfaces is irreversible, and the chemical nature of the polymer chains imposes the range of solvents in which CNTs can be dispersed. To address this limitation, supramolecular bonds can be used to attach and to detach polymer chains from the surface of CNTs. The reversibility of supramolecular bonds offers an easy way to recycle CNTs as well as the possibility to disperse the same functional CNTs in any type of solvent, by simply adapting the chemical nature of the stabilizing chains to the dispersing medium. The concept of supramolecular functionalization can be applied to other particles, for example, silica or metal oxides, as well as to dispersing in polymer melts, films or coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that supramolecular chemistry provides a convenient tool to prepare carbone nanotubes (CNTs) that can be dispersed in solvents of any chemical nature, easily recovered and redispersed. Thymine-modified CNTs (CNT-Thy) can be dispersed in solution in the presence of diaminotriazine (DAT) end-functionalized polymers, through supramolecular Thy/DAT association. DAT-polymer chains are selected according to the solvent chemical nature: polystyrene (PS) for hydrophobic/low polarity solvents and a propylene oxide/ethylene oxide copolymer (predominantly propylene oxide based, PPO/PEO) for polar solvents or water. Long-term stable supramolecular CNT dispersions are reversibly aggregated by adding a few droplets of a selective dissociating agent of the Thy/DAT association (DMSO). CNT-Thy, simply recycled by centrifugation or filtration, can be redispersed in another solvent in presence of a suitable soluble DAT-polymer. Dispersion and aggregation can also be switched on and off by choosing a polymer for which a given solvent is close to Θ-conditions, e.g., PS in cyclohexane or PPO/PEO in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show here that complementary interactions can suppress mesoscopic order and thus lead to a counterintuitive change in material properties. We present results for telechelic supramolecular polymers based on poly(propylene oxide) (PPO), thymine (Thy), and diaminotriazine (DAT). The self-complementary systems based on Thy exhibit lamellar order and 2D crystallization of Thy in the bulk. We show that the microphase segregation is inhibited by addition of DAT: the strong complementary Thy-DAT interaction inhibits crystallization of thymine in microdomains and lamellar structuration. As a result, the supramolecular polymer with only weakly self-complementary stickers is a solid, whereas the supramolecular polymer with strongly complementary stickers is a liquid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In supramolecular polymers, directional interactions control the constituting units connectivity, but dispersion forces may conspire to make complex organizations. Here we report on the long-range order and order-disorder transition (ODT) of main-chain supramolecular polymers based on poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) spacers functionalized on both ends with thymine. Below the ODT temperature (TODT), these compounds are semicrystalline with a lamellar structure, showing nanophase separation between crystallized thymine planes and amorphous PPO layers. Above TODT, they are amorphous and homogeneous even though their X-ray scattering spectrum reveals a peak. This peak is due to correlation hole effect resulting from contrast between end-functional groups and spacer. Macroscopically, the transition is accompanied by dramatic flow and mechanical properties changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]