Dresden 2026 – scientific programme
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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik
CPP 58: Gels, Polymer Networks and Elastomers III
CPP 58.1: Talk
Friday, March 13, 2026, 11:30–11:45, ZEU/0255
X-ray induced structural changes in supramolecular polymer networks — •Niels C. Gießelmann1,2, Yasothaa Thavayogarajah3, Mostafa Ahmadi3, Sebastian Seiffert3, and Katrin Amann-Winkel1,2 — 1Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany — 2Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany — 3Institute of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
Supramolecular polymer networks consist of non-covalently cross-linked macromolecules. Such transient links can be established through functionalized polymer building blocks. An interesting property of this group of materials is their ability to self-heal mechanical damage. We observed polymer networks made of star-shaped four-arm PEG building blocks with metal-complexing end groups. Due to their transient binding, the building blocks diffuse through the polymer network in a process that is not yet understood in detail. In this study, we employed both X-ray scattering in order to probe the structure of the network on the molecular as well as the macromolecular level. This way, we hope to better understand the mechanical and self-healing properties of these polymer networks. We report the emergence of structural changes in dependence of the X-ray flux that futhermore persist when measuring far away from the initially illuminated area. This effect can be explained by the affected molecules spreading throughout the sample by means of the transient binding dynamics mentioned above.
Keywords: Hydrogels; Polymer Networks; X-ray Scattering; SAXS; WAXS