Journal
SOFT MATTER
Volume 18, Issue 24, Pages 4527-4535Publisher
ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY
DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00492e
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- JSPS KAKENHI [19K15630]
- Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research [19K15630] Funding Source: KAKEN
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Bottlebrush elastomers with dense side chain grafting on load-bearing network strands have unique mechanical properties. In this study, the microscopic structural changes of a model bottlebrush elastomer under uniaxial deformation were investigated using in situ small-angle X-ray scattering and tensile tests. The results showed significant strain stiffening and backbone chain alignment in the bottlebrush elastomer, which were not observed in similar side chain-free elastomers and gels.
Bottlebrush (BB) elastomers, in which load-bearing network strands are densely grafted with side chains, are gaining much attention due to their unique mechanical properties. Herein, we used in situ small-angle X-ray scattering coupled with tensile tests to investigate the microscopic structural changes induced in a model BB elastomer with a controlled network structure under uniaxial deformation. The model BB elastomer was synthesized by end-linking a monodisperse star-shaped BB polymer, which ensured a controlled network structure. The BB elastomer exhibited both significant strain stiffening and backbone chain alignment under uniaxial loading, and these properties were not observed in an analogous side chain-free elastomer and gel. It was also found that the side chains in the BB elastomer did not show any sign of chain orientation even when the attached backbone chain was aligned in the stretching direction. These observations highlighted the roles of side chains: they were structurally disordered at the segment level but their steric repulsion made the backbone chain aligned and overstretched.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available