Design of Soft Materials from Liquid Triblock Co-Oligomersand Metal Nanoparticles.

Thermally processable soft materialnetworks with adjustable mechanicalproperties made from very low molar mass α,ω-dithiol functionalized ABA triblock co-oligomers (α,ω-dithiol oligo(isoprene-b-styrene-b-isoprene) (TISIT)) using AgNP as thermally reversible cross-linkingpoints are highlighted in the present work. Liquid TISIT oligomerswere synthesized by sequential anionic polymerization and subsequentlycross-linked with AgNP. Low molar masses (4200–4800 g mol–1) were engaged, assuring disordered microstructuresand therefore, low viscosities at elevated temperatures. Smooth filmswith homogeneous nanoparticle distributions of the resulting quasi-segmentedsoft material networks (TISIT@AgNP) were made by heat pressing. Theinterplay of styrene and AgNP as the structure-supplying portionsin TISIT@AgNP samples facilitates access to materials with tensilestrengths up to 5.58 MPa, toughness up to 13.3 MN mm–2, and tensile moduli up to 80.1 MPa at room temperature and stronglydecreased elasticity and viscosity at elevated temperatures, evenbelow the glass transition temperature of polystyrene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]