A deconvolution protocol of the mechanical relaxation spectrum to identify and quantify individual polymer feature contributions to self-healing

Vincenzo Montano*, Stephen J. Picken, Sybrand Van Der Zwaag, Santiago J. Garcia

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)
125 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Starting from experimental macro-rheological data, we develop a fitting protocol that succeeded in the separation of the overlapping relaxation phenomena in the dissipative regime for a set of intrinsic healing polymers healing most effectively near their glass transition temperature T g . To allow for a proper deconvolution, the rheological master curves are converted to a relaxation spectrum (H(τ)) and this is fitted using an optimized mechanical model, e.g. the Maxwell-Weichert model. The deconvolution of overlapping segmental mobility and reversible interactions is successfully demonstrated for a set of polyimide and polyamide polymers containing none, one and two reversible dynamic features near-T g . Through the fitting parameters, the relaxation timescale of each feature and their apparent process enthalpies are obtained. The quantitative data obtained using the fitting protocol are then compared to macroscopic healing results. As a result, a clear correspondence between the energy stored by the system to accomplish reversible (e.g. H-bonds, π-π) and chain interdiffusion relaxation transitions and the healing efficiency of such polymers are obtained. The implementation of this protocol allows for a clearer identification of the relevant mechanisms in self-healing polymers and paves the way for the development of more efficiently healable polymeric systems.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)10171-10184
Number of pages14
JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics
Volume21
Issue number19
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

Bibliographical note

Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care
Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A deconvolution protocol of the mechanical relaxation spectrum to identify and quantify individual polymer feature contributions to self-healing'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this