Recyclable Telechelic Cross-Linked Polybutadiene Based on Reversible Diels-Alder Chemistry

Chain-end modification of low molar mass polybutadienes allowed the formation of thermoreversible networks based on the Diels-Alder chemistry. Furan telechelic polybutadienes with various chain length were first synthesized. Addition of a bis-maleimide (BM) compound to the liquid polymer led to the formation of elastomeric networks. Properties of this material were highly affected by the chain length of the polymer precursor and the cross-linking density, monitored by changing the quantity of the BM compound. Finally, the capacity of recycling of the rubber was shown by remolding the used material over five cycles without mechanical properties loss.