Abstract
Perfluoropolyether (PFPE)-based materials were obtained through thermal 1,3-dipolar Huisgenreactions. The formulations consisted in a combination of PFPE-functionalized oligomers (PFPEdiyneA2 and PFPE-diazide B2) and a pentaerythritol triazide cross-linker C3. Increasing theamount of C3 induced an increase of the cross-link density. This approach gave rise to materialsranging from rubber-like to gels. The networks formation was found to be governed by a constantactivation energy and it was assumed that the whole process is controlled by the fast reactionbetween A2 and C3. Two glass transition temperatures were evidenced, one ascribed to hydrogenbonds that gradually shifted to a lower temperature with decreasing C3, while the other one wasattributed to PFPE segments that constantly appeared at -−105 °C. Thermogravimetric analysesunder air recorded at a low heating rate of 1 °C min−1 provided a valid estimate of the truetemperature of degradation of the materials (ca. 200 °C).