2021 Volume 42 Issue 6 Pages 229-235
The design of degradable polymeric materials on demand is highly desired. The excellent mechanical and thermally stability of the networked polymers prevents from recycling them after use. Although several technologies have been proposed for the degradable materials, photochemical method is useful because of easy spatiotemporal control and small damage on many kinds of substrates. Polyphthalaldehydes (PPAs) are well known as main chain of polymers that can be end-to-end depolymerized (unzipping). We have synthesized PPAs with oxime ether terminals, and their photoreactions were investigated on UV-irradiation both in solution and film states by spectral measurements. In addition, the results of nanoindentation measurement indicated that the films became elastic on irradiation. Also, we have prepared PPA copolymers with butyl acrylate (BA) and investigated the peel strength changes on irradiation to evaluate their pressure-sensitive adhesive properties. In this review, PPAs and their application as functionalized materials are reviewed, including our photodegradable PPAs.
