The “molecular knitting method” improves toughness and Young’s modulus. We prepared dual cross-network (DC) elastomers with a knitting structure and single movable cross-network elastomers with penetrating polymers (SCP elastomers) by swelling the single movable cross-network (SC) elastomers in liquid monomers. The DC elastomers showed a high toughness and a high Young’s modulus. SAXS indicated that the DC elastomers exhibited heterogeneity at the nanoscale. The DC elastomers showed a significantly broader relaxation time distribution than the SC and SCP elastomers. Thus, the nanoscale heterogeneity and broader relaxation time distribution were important to increase toughness.
- Yusaku Kawai
- Junsu Park
- Yoshinori Takashima
