biostudies-literatureGregory GLThe Faraday InstitutionOxford Martin School, University of OxfordFaraday InstitutionDiamond Light SourceEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Councile202210748https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9828403biostudies-literatureUnknown61(47)Thermoplastic elastomers based on polyesters/carbonates have the potential to maximize recyclability, degradability and renewable resource use. However, they often underperform and suffer from the familiar trade-off between strength and extensibility. Herein, we report well-defined reprocessable poly(ester-b-carbonate-b-ester) elastomers with impressive tensile strengths (60 MPa), elasticity (>800 %) and recovery (95 %). Plus, the ester/carbonate linkages are fully degradable and enable chemical recycling. The superior performances are attributed to three features: (1) Highly entangled soft segments; (2) Fully reversible strain-induced crystallization and (3) Precisely placed Zn^II -carboxylates dynamically crosslinking the hard domains. The one-pot synthesis couples controlled cyclic monomer ring-opening polymerization and alternating epoxide/anhydride ring-opening copolymerization. Efficient convresion to ionomers is achieved by reacting vinyl-epoxides to install Zn^II -carboxylates.Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)Block Poly(carbonate-ester) Ionomers as High-Performance and Recyclable Thermoplastic Elastomers.PMC9828403EP/V003321/1FIRG007Future of PlasticsEP/R027129/1FIRG026FIRG026, SOLBATSM29810-1EP/S018603/1Carrodeguas LPKimpel JGregory GLWilliams CKLagodzinska MSulley GSHafele LfalseBlock Poly(carbonate-ester) Ionomers as High-Performance and Recyclable Thermoplastic Elastomers.Thermoplastic elastomers based on polyesters/carbonates have the potential to maximize recyclability, degradability and renewable resource use. However, they often underperform and suffer from the familiar trade-off between strength and extensibility. Herein, we report well-defined reprocessable poly(ester-b-carbonate-b-ester) elastomers with impressive tensile strengths (60 MPa), elasticity (>800 %) and recovery (95 %). Plus, the ester/carbonate linkages are fully degradable and enable chemical recycling. The superior performances are attributed to three features: (1) Highly entangled soft segments; (2) Fully reversible strain-induced crystallization and (3) Precisely placed Zn^II -carboxylates dynamically crosslinking the hard domains. The one-pot synthesis couples controlled cyclic monomer ring-opening polymerization and alternating epoxide/anhydride ring-opening copolymerization. Efficient convresion to ionomers is achieved by reacting vinyl-epoxides to install Zn^II -carboxylates.2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Nov2026-03-18T13:51:14.19Z2025-04-04T09:30:49.52ZS-EPMC98284033617877410.1002/anie.202210748