Main-Chain Carborane-Embedded Polyethylene

Abstract

Functionalization of polyethylene toward high-performance polymers with good thermal and mechanical properties is a persistent challenge. Closo-carboranes, with a polyhedral nanocage structure, provide polyethylene with excellent thermal and chemical stability. In this work, main-chain carborane-embedded polyethylene is prepared by the ring-opening metathesis copolymerization of a cyclic o-carborane olefin with cyclooctene, followed by backbone hydrogenation. The main-chain carborane-embedded polyethylene mimics could offer superior thermal and mechanical properties to high-density polyethylene (HDPE) by adjusting the incorporation ratio while still maintaining moderate crystalline properties.