Novel supramolecular polymer networks based on melamine- and imide-containing oligomers

Reversible, supramolecular polymer networks based on commercially available bulk chemicals, and prepared using an industrially attractive route are described. The difunctional, low molecular weight polytetramethyleneoxide is functionalized with trimellitic imide, and reversibly crosslinked with the trifunctional melamine using the well known imide‐diaminopyridine triple hydrogen bonding pattern. Molecular modelling calculations as well as experimental studies on model compounds indicate that the aimed 1:3 melamine ‐ imide stoichiometry is obtained. The resulting reversible, supramolecular polymer structures show a rheological behaviour, that is typical for polymer networks. The results presented here describe an industrially accessible route to use supramolecular interactions in order to obtain materials with novel properties.