skip to main content


Title: A “DROP-IN” COMPOSITE MATRIX VIA AZIDE-ALKYNE CYCLOADDITION
Since the inception of carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) they have steadily gained in popularity due to their light weight, high tensile strength and modulus, and environmental toughness. However, curing of CFRPs of the thermosetting type generally must be performed within an autoclave, whose fixed, physical dimensions effectively limit the maximum size of the part. Alternative curing chemistries may potentially eliminate the requirement for an autoclave, which would allow creation of much larger panels. This project seeks to develop a thermoset composite matrix that is radiation-curable using the Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) click reaction. Previously, Storey et al.(1,2) reported that the azide-modified epoxy resin, di(3-azido-2-hydroxypropyl) ether of bisphenol-A (DAHP-BPA), could be cured by reaction with polyfunctional alkyne crosslinkers under mild conditions using Cu(I) catalysis. In the absence of reducing agents, Cu(II) compounds are catalytically inactive; however, upon exposure to ultraviolet light, they are reduced to Cu(I), which then catalyzes the reaction, allowing it to progress to a high degree of cure at room temperature. Herein, we report the kinetics of photo-induced CuAAC polymerization of the DAHP-BPA and several polyfunctional propargyl amine based crosslinkers, monitored by real-time FTIR as well as mechanical properties of fully cured materials. Polymerizations were studied as a function of Cu(II) compound type, Cu(II) concentration, UV light (365 nm) intensity, and duration of irradiation.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1659340
NSF-PAR ID:
10054412
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
CAMX: The Composites and Advanced Materials Expo
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Aseries of novel 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles were synthesized from an (R)-carvone terminal alkyne derivative via a Cu (I)-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition reaction using CuSO4,5H2O as the copper (II) source and sodium ascorbate as a reducing agent which reduces Cu (II) into Cu (I). All the newly synthesized 1,2,3-triazoles 9a–h were fully identified on the basis of their HRMS and NMR spectral data and then evaluated for their cell growth inhibition potential by MTS assay against HT-1080 fibrosarcoma, A-549 lung carcinoma, and two breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) cell lines. Compound 9d showed notable cytotoxic effects against the HT-1080 and MCF-7 cells with IC50 values of 25.77 and 27.89 µM, respectively, while compound 9c displayed significant activity against MCF-7 cells with an IC50 value of 25.03 µM. Density functional calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory were used to confirm the high reactivity of the terminal alkyne as a dipolarophile. Quantum calculations were also used to investigate the mechanism of both the uncatalyzed and copper (I)-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition reaction (CuAAC). The catalyzed reaction gives complete regioselectivity via a stepwise mechanism streamlining experimental observations. The calculated free-energy barriers 4.33 kcal/mol and 29.35 kcal/mol for the 1,4- and 1,5-regioisomers, respectively, explain the marked regioselectivity of the CuAAC reaction. 
    more » « less
  2. Abstract

    Photoresponsive materials that change in response to light have been studied for a range of applications. These materials are often metastable during irradiation, returning to their pre‐irradiated state after removal of the light source. Herein, we report a polymer gel comprising poly(ethylene glycol) star polymers linked by Cu24L24metal–organic cages/polyhedra (MOCs) with coumarin ligands. In the presence of UV light, a photosensitizer, and a hydrogen donor, this “polyMOC” material can be reversibly switched between CuII, CuI, and Cu0. The instability of the MOC junctions in the CuIand Cu0states leads to network disassembly, forming CuI/Cu0solutions, respectively, that are stable until re‐oxidation to CuIIand supramolecular gelation. This reversible disassembly of the polyMOC network can occur in the presence of a fixed covalent second network generated in situ by copper‐catalyzed azide‐alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), providing interpenetrating supramolecular and covalent networks.

     
    more » « less
  3. Abstract

    Photoresponsive materials that change in response to light have been studied for a range of applications. These materials are often metastable during irradiation, returning to their pre‐irradiated state after removal of the light source. Herein, we report a polymer gel comprising poly(ethylene glycol) star polymers linked by Cu24L24metal–organic cages/polyhedra (MOCs) with coumarin ligands. In the presence of UV light, a photosensitizer, and a hydrogen donor, this “polyMOC” material can be reversibly switched between CuII, CuI, and Cu0. The instability of the MOC junctions in the CuIand Cu0states leads to network disassembly, forming CuI/Cu0solutions, respectively, that are stable until re‐oxidation to CuIIand supramolecular gelation. This reversible disassembly of the polyMOC network can occur in the presence of a fixed covalent second network generated in situ by copper‐catalyzed azide‐alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), providing interpenetrating supramolecular and covalent networks.

     
    more » « less
  4. Abstract

    Mechano‐activated chemistry is a powerful tool for remodeling of synthetic polymeric materials, however, few reactions are currently available. Here we show that using piezochemical reduction of a CuII‐based pre‐catalyst, a step‐growth polymerization occurs via the copper catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction to form a linear polytriazole. Furthermore, we show that a linear polymer can be crosslinked mechanochemically using the same chemistry to form a solid organogel. We envision that this chemistry can be used to harness mechanical energy for constructive purposes in polymeric materials.

     
    more » « less
  5. Abstract

    Mechano‐activated chemistry is a powerful tool for remodeling of synthetic polymeric materials, however, few reactions are currently available. Here we show that using piezochemical reduction of a CuII‐based pre‐catalyst, a step‐growth polymerization occurs via the copper catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction to form a linear polytriazole. Furthermore, we show that a linear polymer can be crosslinked mechanochemically using the same chemistry to form a solid organogel. We envision that this chemistry can be used to harness mechanical energy for constructive purposes in polymeric materials.

     
    more » « less