Abstract
Vitrimers are one kind of covalently crosslinked polymers that can be reprocessed. Topology freezing transition temperature (Tv) is vitrimer’s upper limit temperature for service and lower temperature for recycle. However, there has been no proper method to detect the intrinsic Tv till now. Even worse, current testing methods may lead to a misunderstanding of vitrimers. Here we provide a sensitive and universal method by doping or swelling aggregation-induced-emission (AIE) luminogens into vitrimers. The fluorescence of AIE-luminogens changes dramatically below and over Tv, providing an accurate method to measure Tv without the interference of external force. Moreover, according to this method, Tv is independent of catalyst loading. The opposite idea has been kept for a long time. This method not only is helpful for the practical application of vitrimers so as to reduce white wastes, but also may facilitate deep understanding of vitrimers and further development of functional polymer materials.
Highlights
Vitrimers are one kind of covalently crosslinked polymers that can be reprocessed
Tv, exchangeable reaction happens fast and vitrimer is able to be reprocessed and recycled; below Tv, exchangeable reaction is slow and vitrimer is similar to the traditional thermoset
From X-ray diffractometry (XRD) curves in Supplementary Fig. 2a, we can deduce that TPE is homogenously
Summary
Vitrimers are one kind of covalently crosslinked polymers that can be reprocessed. Topology freezing transition temperature (Tv) is vitrimer’s upper limit temperature for service and lower temperature for recycle. The fluorescence of AIEluminogens changes dramatically below and over Tv, providing an accurate method to measure Tv without the interference of external force. According to this method, Tv is independent of catalyst loading. It is vital to know vitrimers’ upper limit temperature for use and lower limit temperature for recycle For common polymers, they have their characteristic temperatures such as glass transition temperature (Tg), melting point (Tm), and so on. There are no existing methods that can reflect the actual Tv in static-situation, which is closely related to the intrinsic nature of the network Such situation brings troubles to the research and practical application of vitrimers. It is highly demanded to find a proper accurate method to measure the true
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