Blends of oligopeptide terminal polyisobutylene or polystyrene

Abstract

Various blends of polymers are disclosed, comprising oligopeptide functionalised polymers such as polyisobutylene and polystyrene. Mono-functionalised and di-functionalised polymers (each containing 0 to 5 peptide units beyond its terminal amide group) may be blended with each other and/or with non-functionalised polymers to produce blended compositions. Such compositions are of use, for example, in vibrations dampers. Certain blends also exhibit self-healing properties.

1 . A polymer blend, comprising:
 a first oligopeptide-terminal polymer component selected from the group consisting of:
 a hydrophobic, flexible polymer having a glass transition temperature below 20° C. and only one monodisperse oligopeptide end group, the monodisperse oligopeptide end group having 1 to 5 amino acid repeating units; and 
 a hydrophobic, flexible polymer having a glass transition temperature below 20° C. and two monodisperse oligopeptide end groups; and 
   at least one additional polymer component selected from the group consisting of:
 a hydrophobic, flexible polymer that is different from said first oligopeptide-terminal polymer component and that has a glass transition temperature below 20° C. and only one monodisperse oligopeptide end group, the monodisperse oligopeptide end group having 1 to 5 amino acid repeating units; and 
 a hydrophobic, flexible polymer that is different from said first oligopeptide-terminal polymer component and that has a glass transition temperature below 20° C. and two monodisperse oligopeptide end groups. 
   
     
     
         2 . The polymer blend according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first oligopeptide-terminal polymer component and said at least one additional polymer component comprises repeating units selected from the group consisting of isobutylene, butadiene, siloxane, acrylate, and fluoropolymer units. 
     
     
         3 . The polymer blend according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first oligopeptide-terminal polymer component and said at least one additional polymer component comprises one or more of isobutylene, isoprene or styrene units. 
     
     
         4 . The polymer blend according to  claim 1 , wherein said first oligopeptide-terminal polymer component and said at least one additional polymer component include a hydrophobic, flexible isobutylene polymer having a glass transition temperature below 20° C. and only one monodisperse oligopeptide end group, the monodisperse oligopeptide end group having 1 to 5 amino acid repeating units, blended with a hydrophobic, flexible styrene polymer having a glass transition temperature below 20° C. and only one monodisperse oligopeptide end group, the monodisperse oligopeptide end group having 1 to 5 amino acid repeating units. 
     
     
         5 . The polymer blend according to  claim 1 , wherein an oligopeptide moiety of said first oligopeptide-terminal polymer component comprises L-alanine units. 
     
     
         6 . The polymer blend according to  claim 1 , wherein a polymer segment of at least one of said first oligopeptide-terminal polymer component and said at least one additional polymer component is selected from the group consisting of: polyisobutylene, poly(isobutylene-co-isoprene), polyisoprene, polybutadiene, polysiloxane, polyacrylate, poly(ethylene-co-butylene), hydrogenated poly(isoprene), hydrogenated poly(butadiene), and a fluoropolymer. 
     
     
         7 . The polymer blend according to  claim 6 , wherein said fluoropolymer is poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-ethylene). 
     
     
         8 . The polymer blend according to  claim 1 , wherein said first oligopeptide-terminal polymer component and said at least one additional polymer component include a hydrophobic, flexible polyisobutylene polymer having one or two monodisperse oligopeptide end groups blended with a hydrophobic, flexible polystyrene polymer having one or two monodisperse oligopeptide end groups. 
     
     
         9 . The polymer blend according to  claim 1 , in the form of a shape-persistent thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         10 . The polymer blend according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said oligopeptide end groups of said first oligopeptide-terminal polymer component and said at least one additional polymer component is the same. 
     
     
         11 . The polymer blend according to  claim 10 , wherein each of said oligopeptide end groups of said first oligopeptide-terminal polymer component and said at least one additional polymer component has the same 2 amino acid repeating units beyond its terminal amide group. 
     
     
         12 . The polymer blend according to  claim 1 , comprising interpenetrating supramolecular polymer networks in which two or more specific supramolecular interactions result in the formation of two or more independent, interpenetrating supramolecular networks with different transition temperatures, that is, deaggregation temperatures. 
     
     
         13 . A vibration damping material comprising the polymer blend according to  claim 12 . 
     
     
         14 . The vibration damping material according to  claim 13 , being a composite material including one or more of the following: a plasticizer; and a reinforcing filler comprising carbon fibre, carbon black, or silica particles. 
     
     
         15 . The vibration damping material according to  claim 13 , in a form adapted to reduce vibration within a vehicle, the form being a pad or other layer which can be interposed between members of the vehicle subject to vibration. 
     
     
         16 . A vehicle which includes the vibration damping material according to  claim 13 . 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle according to  claim 16 , which is a motor vehicle or an aerospace vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . A method of vibration damping which involves use of the polymer blend according to  claim 1  upon or within a structure or a vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . A polymer blend, comprising:
 at least one hydrophobic, flexible polymer having a glass transition temperature below 20° C. and only one monodisperse oligopeptide end group, the monodisperse oligopeptide end group having 1 to 5 amino acid repeating units; and   at least one hydrophobic, flexible polymer having a glass transition temperature below 20° C. and two monodisperse oligopeptide end groups.   
     
     
         20 . The polymer blend according to  claim 19 , wherein said at least one hydrophobic, flexible polymer having only one monodisperse oligopeptide end group and said at least one hydrophobic, flexible polymer having two monodisperse oligopeptide end groups comprise the same type of polymer segment.