Precipitation co-polymerization of ethylene and 2-allylanisole for preparing self-healing polymers

Abstract In this study, a mixed solvent system composed of toluene and n-hexane was used, and a scandium catalyst was employed to catalyse co-polymerization of ethylene and 2-allylanisole, successfully preparing multi-block co-polymers with self-healing property. Measurements, such as gel permeation chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance, differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing microscope and tensile testing, were used to analyse the effects of solvent composition on polymer chain structures, mechanical properties and self-healing property of the as-prepared samples. The results showed that when the volume ratio of n-hexane is less than 75%, the as-obtained co-polymers could be successfully prepared, and the samples also exhibit excellent mechanical properties and self-healing property. When the proportion of n-hexane is 50 vol%, tensile strength of the sample is 3.5 MPa, and the elongation could reach 93% of its original value after self-healing at room temperature for 4 hours.