Polymeric complex nanoparticles enable the fabrication of mechanically superstrong and recyclable poly(aryl ether sulfone)- based polymer composites

Abstract

It is a long-term pursuit, and also, a challenge to significantly improve the mechanical strength of thermoplastic polymers using readily dispersed polymers as nanofillers. In this study, we demonstrated that in situ formed carboxylic acid-functionalized poly(aryl ether sulfone) (PAES-COOH)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVPON) complex nanoparticles can significantly enhance the mechanical strength of PAES-COOH by mixing PAES-COOH with a small fraction of PVPON. The PAES-COOH/PVPON10% composite, which contained ∼10 wt % PVPON, exhibited a tensile strength of ∼104.8 MPa and Young's modulus of ∼932.2 MPa, which were ∼2.0 and ∼1.7 times higher than those of the PAES-COOH, respectively. The PAES-COOH/PVPON nanoparticles which were uniformly dispersed in PAES-COOH matrices and had strong hydrogen-bonding interactions with PAES-COOH, served as nanofillers to reinforce the mechanical strength of the PAES-COOH. The PAES-COOH/PVPON10% composites possessed excellent solvent-assisted healability, and the fractured composites could be healed to restore their original mechanical strength. Meanwhile, the PAES- COOH/PVPON10% composites could be recycled multiple times, and yet retained their shape integration and their original mechanical strength.