Exploring How Vitrimer-like Properties Can Be Achieved from Dissociative Exchange in Anilinium Salts

Dynamic covalent materials have properties such as self-healing, recyclability, and stress relaxation because of the dynamic exchange in polymer networks. Here, kinetic exchange in anilinium salts and viscoelastic properties of dynamic covalent networks with anilinium linkages are extensively studied. Mechanistic studies show that dynamic exchange in anilinium salts follows a dissociative pathway. Small-molecule kinetics study suggests that despite the dissociative mechanism, there is an essentially constant molar composition or bond density across a wide temperature profile. Rheological studies indicate that covalent adaptable networks (CANs) with anilinium linkages provide viscoelastic properties similar to CANs with associative exchange process networks. Additionally, thermal- and microwave-responsive self-healing and malleability properties can be achieved in this network, along with the materials showing excellent creep resistance and creep recovery.