Vitrimer Nanocomposites from Polymerization‐Induced Self‐Assembly

T Thi H. Le (George and Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science and Engineering) K Kevin A. Stewart (George and Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science and Engineering) C Cabell B. Eades (George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry) J Jared I. Bowman (George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry) N Nathan B. Wei (George and Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science and Engineering) B Brent S. Sumerlin (George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry)

Abstract

Abstract Vitrimers, a class of covalent adaptable networks (CANs), promise sustainability through recyclability and reprocessability, yet suffer from creep under prolonged stress due to dynamic bond exchange. Here, a materials design strategy is reported that integrates polymerization‐induced self‐assembly (PISA) to embed core‐crosslinked nanoparticles within vitrimer networks, yielding hierarchical dual‐crosslinked systems with a reduction of creep susceptibility by up to 90% at 150 °C yet good reprocessability at elevated temperatures ( E a = 246 kJ mol −1 ). These spherical nanostructures restrict chain mobility and act as rheological modifiers that can be synthetically tuned through core block length. This approach offers precise architectural control, leveraging nanoparticle phase morphology to direct bulk vitrimer properties. This study establishes a new paradigm for creep‐resistant CANs and showcases how PISA can advance vitrimer performance by structurally encoding mechanical robustness and reprocessability.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 4
Published January 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (6)

T

Thi H. Le

George and Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science and Engineering

K

Kevin A. Stewart

George and Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science and Engineering

C

Cabell B. Eades

George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry

J

Jared I. Bowman

George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry

N

Nathan B. Wei

George and Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science and Engineering

B

Brent S. Sumerlin

George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry