Polymer functionalization by hydrogen bonding stickers can improve their bulk properties.
For instance, grafting bis-ureas on poly(isobutene) led to a material (PIBUT) with remarkable adhesive properties in particular on silicone surface (collaboration C. Creton, ESPCI).
J. Courtois, I. Baroudi, N. Nouvel, E. Degrandi, S. Pensec, G. Ducouret, C. Chaneac, L. Bouteiller, C. Creton "Supramolecular Soft Adhesive Materials" Advanced Functional Materials 2010, 20, 1803-1811.
Using controlled radical polymerization techniques, a large range of supramolecular polyacrylates were obtained. The strength of the self-association could be tuned with the nature of the bisurea used. Finally, a rheology study showed a strong influence of the molar mass of the polymer. Low molar masses yield elastic material due to bis-urea self-association. In contrast for high molar masses, we have shown that the viscoelastic behavior was governed by the entanglements between chains.
X. Callies, C. Fonteneau, C. Vechambre, S. Pensec, J-M. Chenal, L. Chazeau, L. Bouteiller, G. Ducouret, C. Creton "Linear Rheology of Bis-Urea Functionalized Supramolecular Poly(butylacrylate)s : Part I – Weak Stickers" Polymer 2015, 69, 233-240.
X. Callies, C. Vechambre, C. Fonteneau, S. Pensec, J-M. Chenal, L. Chazeau, L. Bouteiller, G. Ducouret, C. Creton "Linear rheology of supramolecular polymers center-functionalized with strong stickers" Macromolecules 2015, 48, 7320-7326.