Thermoanalytical studies on an order-disorder transition resulting from supramolecular organization of hydrogen bond motifs in an unpolar (polymer-) matrix are reported. Functional groups having two potential sites for hydrogen bonding are located statistically along the polymer backbone. Multistep hydrogen bond formation leads to the formation of association chains whose lengths can be controlled by addition of monofunctional groups like in conventional stepgrowth polymers. The association chain length is estimated from the variation of transition enthalpy and 'melting' temperature.
A new type of multicomponent thermoplastic elastomers is prepared by attaching 4-(3,5-dioxo-l,2,4-triazolin4yl)benzoic acid to polybutadiene chains. The groups are difunctional with respect to a potential chain-molecule formation via reversible association. Thus, a covalent polymer is combined with an association polymer. Characterisation of the thermal and mechanical properties shows that phase separation between the two 'polymers' stabilizes the association polymer. The supramolecular ordered structure is characterised by the observation of a melting endotherm and birefringent textures in the material. The mechanical properties are comparable to thermoplastic elastomers based on covalent multiblock copolymers with high modulus and tensile strength.
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