Title : Water-resistant boronic ester vitrimers via hydrophobic side chain protection
Abstract:
To address the limitations of boronic ester-based dynamic polymers in moist or aqueous environments, we developed a boronic ester vitrimer system enhanced with hydrophobic fluorinated side chains. These materials are capable of withstanding high humidity and even direct water immersion without degradation in thermal or mechanical performance. The vitrimer, termed FV1, was synthesized via radical copolymerization of a fluorinated acrylate monomer and a diol-functional acrylate, followed by dynamic crosslinking using 1,4-phenylenebisboronic acid.
Characterization confirmed the successful incorporation of functional groups and formation of a stable network. FV1 retained its properties under 65% RH for 7 days and showed negligible mechanical degradation after 1 hour of water immersion. Comparative studies with a non-fluorinated analogue revealed significant performance gaps, highlighting the efficacy of hydrophobic shielding over the boronic ester linkages. Furthermore, FV1 demonstrated robust self-healing and could be both mechanically and chemically recycled under mild conditions using green solvents, such as methanol.
These findings present a significant step toward the practical use of dynamic covalent materials in humid or aqueous environments, advancing the design of circular polymers with durability and recyclability in real-world conditions.
