INS11-0337
From Topology to Function: Thermomechanical and Multifunctional Vitrimer Nanocomposites
Topic
S11. PMSE–PSK50 Anniversary Symposium: Advancing Polymer Science for a Sustainable and Intelligent Future
When and Where
Sep 29, 2026
11:40 - 12:05
Room 110
Session Chairs
Jeong Jae WIE
Presenter(s)
Dhriti Nepal (Air Force Research Lab, Wright Patterson AFB, OH)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Vitrimers represent a rapidly evolving class of covalently cross-linked polymer networks capable of topological rearrangement at elevated temperatures. Beyond the conventional glass transition temperature (Tg), these systems exhibit a topology freezing temperature (Tv), above which dynamic bond exchange reactions enable stress relaxation, self-healing, and shape reprogramming. In this work, we design and characterize architected vitrimer nanocomposites that leverage nanofillers, including gold nanoparticles, graphene, and MXene assembled into Voronoi-inspired microstructures. This strategy creates percolative networks at reduced filler loadings, imparting mechanical reinforcement, electrical conductivity, and stimuli-responsiveness within a single, sustainable material platform. Systematic investigation reveals that Tv scales with nanofiller concentration while remaining largely independent of filler chemistry, enabling predictable tuning of network dynamics. Furthermore, the nanocomposites exhibit efficient photothermal self-healing, reconfigurable shape memory, and enhanced thermomechanical robustness, all accessible through the interplay of topology and composition. These results underscore the promise of vitrimer-based nanocomposites as next-generation materials for aerospace, automotive, and flexible electronic applications, where multifunctionality, repairability, and adaptability are critical.
