BORONIC ESTER-BASED CROSSLINKED POLYMERS WITH IMPROVED PROCESSABILITY

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a crosslinked polymer composition containing exchangeable pending links and exchangeable crosslinks, by boronic ester metathesis reactions, said process implementing a thermoplastic polymer comprising pending boronic ester groups, and an additive as crosslinking agent that melts, and thus crosslinks, in the polymer matrix at a temperature, called temperature of dissociation, higher that the processing temperature. Said temperature of dissociation is reached in the later curing step only.

Claims

1. A process for preparing a crosslinked polymer composition containing exchangeable pending links and exchangeable crosslinks, by boronic ester metathesis reactions, comprising the steps of: (a) heating, to a temperature T.sub.mix, a mix M comprising: a thermoplastic polymer, the thermoplastic polymer comprising pending boronic ester groups independently selected in the group consisting of dioxaborolane and dioxaborinane of the following formula EB-1 and EB-2, ##STR00026## in which Rx, Rv and Rw are identical or different and each represent a hydrogen atom or a group comprising carbon or form together, as a pair, an aliphatic or an aromatic ring, Ry is a group comprising carbon, Ry being linked to the boron atom of the dioxaborolane or dioxaborinane ring by a covalent bond through a carbon atom; Ry being further linked to the polymer directly by a covalent bond or through a functional group G covalently linked to the polymer; or the substituent selected from Rx, Rw, Rv, {Rx, Rw} or {Rx, Rv} being linked to the polymer by a covalent bond or through a functional group G covalently linked to the polymer, molecules of an additive A able to react with the pending boronic ester groups of the thermoplastic polymer to form a crosslinked polymer composition containing pending links and crosslinks that are exchangeable by boronic ester metathesis reaction and able to form intermolecular non-covalent interactions with other molecules of additive A and/or with the thermoplastic polymer so that at a temperature T.sub.mix the molecules of additive A are associated together and/or with the thermoplastic polymer by non-covalent interactions, each molecule of additive A independently comprising: two boronic ester functions able to react with the pending boronic ester groups of the thermoplastic polymer, and two or more functions F, identical or different, selected in the group consisting of an amide function of formula NHC(O), a urea function of formula NHC(O)NH, and a carbamate function of formula OC(O)NH, wherein T.sub.mix is higher than the glass transition temperature or the melting temperature of the thermoplastic polymer used in step (a) and equal to or lower than the initial temperature of dissociation T.sub.dis(i) of the crosslinking agent in the mix of step (a), (b) recovering a composition comprising the polymer of step (a), which is not crosslinked, and the additive A, and, (c) curing the non-crosslinked composition of step (b) at a temperature T.sub.c to provide the crosslinked polymer composition, wherein T.sub.c satisfies the following: T.sub.c(T.sub.dis(i)+T.sub.dis(f))/2, where T.sub.dis(i) is the initial temperature of dissociation in step (a) and T.sub.dis(f) is the final temperature of dissociation of the additive A in the mix of step (c), the initial temperature of dissociation T.sub.dis(i) is the temperature at which the intermolecular non-covalent interactions formed by the molecules of additive A in the mix of step (a) start to break, and the final temperature of dissociation T.sub.dis(f) is the temperature at which the intermolecular non-covalent interactions formed by the molecules of additive A in the mix of step (c) are completely broken.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein each molecule of additive A comprises two identical boronic ester functions.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the molecules of additive A are identical and are of formula (IA): ##STR00027## in which Ar.sub.1 is an aromatic group; F.sub.1 and F.sub.2, identical or different, are selected in the group consisting of NHC(O), C(O)NH, NHC(O)NH, OC(O)NH and NHC(O)O; a, b, i and j, identical or different, are natural integers equal to 0 or 1; when a is 1: R.sub.2 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkanediyl or a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkenediyl, said alkanediyl or alkendiyl being optionally substituted with one or more halogen(s), R.sub.3 is H or R.sub.2 further forms with R.sub.3 an aromatic group provided that i=0, said aromatic group being optionally substituted by one or more halogen(s); when a is 0: the radical F.sub.1 is directly linked to the carbon atom of the ester boronic and R.sub.3 is H; when b is 1: R.sub.4 is an C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkanediyl or a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkenediyl, said alkanediyl or alkendiyl being optionally substituted with one or more halogen(s), R.sub.5 is H or R.sub.4 further forms with R.sub.5 an aromatic group provided that j=0, said aromatic group being optionally substituted by one or more halogen(s); when b is 0: the radical F.sub.2 is directly linked to the carbon atom of the ester boronic and R.sub.5 is H; R.sub.1 and R.sub.6, identical or different, are each a group comprising carbon.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the molecules of additive A are identical and are of formula (IB) ##STR00028## in which Ar.sub.2 and Ar.sub.3, identical or different, are an aromatic group; F.sub.1 and F.sub.2, identical or different, are selected in the group consisting of NHC(O), C(O)NH, NHC(O)NH, OC(O)NH and NHC(O)O; a, b, i and j, identical or different, are natural integers equal to 0 or 1; when a is 1: R.sub.2 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkanediyl or a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkenediyl, said alkanediyl or alkendiyl being optionally substituted with one or more halogen(s), R.sub.3 is H or R.sub.2 further forms with R.sub.3 an aromatic group provided that i=0, said aromatic group being optionally substituted by one or more halogen(s); when a is 0: the radical F.sub.1 is directly linked to the carbon atom of the ester boronic and R.sub.3 is H; when b is 1: R.sub.4 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkanediyl or a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkenediyl, said alkanediyl or alkendiyl being optionally substituted with one or more halogen(s), R.sub.5 is H, or R.sub.4 further forms with R.sub.5 an aromatic group provided that j=0, said aromatic group being optionally substituted by one or more halogen(s); when b is 0: the radical F.sub.2 is directly linked to the carbon atom of the ester boronic and R.sub.5 is H; R.sub.7 is a group comprising carbon.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein step (b) includes a shaping of the non-crosslinked polymer composition.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein steps (a) and (b) are achieved simultaneously by extrusion.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein step (c) is carried out for a time ranging from 1 min to 1 hour.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein the mix of step (a) comprises from 0.05 to 10 wt % of the additive A in relation to the weight of the thermoplastic polymer, or to the blend thereof.

9. The process of claim 1, wherein step (c) is performed by compression molding, injection molding and oven curing.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein a thermoplastic polymer not carrying any pending boronic ester group is further added during step a).

11. The process of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises the following sub-steps: (a1) providing the thermoplastic polymer comprising pending boronic ester groups independently selected in the group consisting of EB-1 and EB-2, optionally with a thermoplastic polymer not carrying any pending boronic ester group, or a blend thereof, (a2) providing the additive A, (a3) mixing the thermoplastic polymer of step (a1), optionally in presence of a thermoplastic polymer not carrying any pending boronic ester group, or a blend thereof, with the additive A of step (a2) at a processing temperature T.sub.mix, wherein T.sub.mix is higher than the glass transition temperature or the melting temperature of the thermoplastic polymer provided in step (a1) and equal to or lower than the initial temperature of dissociation T.sub.dis(i) of the crosslinking agent in the mix of step (a3).

12. The process of claim 5, wherein the shaping of the non-crosslinked polymer composition is made by extrusion, injection, compression, molding or thermoforming.

13. The process of claim 7, wherein step (c) is carried out for a time ranging from 2 min to 30 min.

14. The process of claim 8, wherein the mix of step (a) comprises from 0.1 to 3.5 wt % of the additive A in relation to the weight of the thermoplastic polymer, or to the blend thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0062] FIG. 1A. VT-FTIR heating of the P/1 mixture at 1 wt %, as defined in examples, with 3-minute isotherms every 5 C., is the normalized intensity of the hydrogen bonded NH stretching band at 3292 cm.sup.1.

[0063] FIG. 1B. Rheology temperature sweep experiment performed at 1 rad/s: heating at 10 C./min of the P/1 mixture at 1 wt %, as defined in examples.

[0064] FIG. 1C. DSC of the first heat of pure 1, as defined in examples.

[0065] FIG. 1D. DSC of the first heat of the P/1 mixture at 1 wt %, as defined in examples. Both DSC experiments were performed at a 10 C./min ramp.

[0066] FIG. 2A. Force required to keep the screw speed rotation constant as a function of extrusion time for mixtures of 1 and 2 with P, as defined in examples, (solid and dashed lines, respectively). Both extrusions were performed at 100 C.

[0067] FIG. 2B. Normalized stress-relaxation performed at 100 C. (normalized relaxation modulus as a function of time) of a polymer P after extrusion at 100 C. with 1 wt % of 1 and 2, as defined in examples, (solid and dotted lines, respectively) and of polymer P with 1 wt % of 1 after extrusion and compression molding for 10 min at 220 C. (dashed line).

[0068] FIG. 3. DMA of the material obtained after extrusion (i.e. after steps (a) and (b)) of polymer P with 1 wt % of 1, as defined in examples, (black solid line), after extrusion and compression molding (10 minutes at 220 C., black dotted line) of polymer P with 1 wt % of 1 (i.e. after steps (A), (b) and (c)), and of the latter material after recycling (light grey dashed line). Frequency is 1 Hz.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Definitions

[0069] The terms polymer, linear polymer and branched polymer have the definition given in WO2017/0294123, on page 15, line 18 to page 16, line 7, whose teaching is herein incorporated by reference. According to this invention, polymer designates both linear polymer chains and branched polymer chains.

[0070] Boronic ester according to the present invention designates a groups comprising the moiety dioxaborolane or dioxaborinane.

[0071] Dioxaborolane moiety according to the present invention is of formula:

##STR00005##

[0072] Dioxaborinane moiety according to the present invention is of formula:

##STR00006##

[0073] The boronic ester group according to the present invention is a dioxaborolane or dioxaborinane:

##STR00007##

wherein Ry, Rx, Rw and Rv are as defined after.

[0074] The term pending group as used herein designates a side-group of the polymer chain, i.e., a substituent that is not an oligomer nor a polymer. A side-group is not integrated into the main chain of the polymer. The term pending boronic ester group as used herein designates a boronic ester group (EB1) or (EB2) directly linked by a covalent bond or through a functional group G to a constitutional unit of the polymer by one and only one of its substituents Ry, Rx, Rw, Rz, {Rx, Rw} or {Rx, Rv}.

[0075] The substituent attached to the polymer chain can be Ry, as defined later, and then it is said that the boronic ester group is linked to the polymer by the boron atom of the dioxaborolane or dioxoborinane group.

[0076] The substituent attached to the polymer chain can by Rx, Rw, Rv, or {Rx, Rw} or {Rx, Rv} if these form together an aliphatic or aromatic ring, as defined later, and then it is said that the boronic ester group is linked to the polymer by the carbon atom of the dioxaborolane or dioxoborinane group.

[0077] Crosslinking, or polymer chain crosslinking, has the definition given in WO2017/029413, on page 18, line 6 to page 19, line 9, whose teaching is herein incorporated by reference. It consists of creating covalent chemical bonds between polymer chains that initially are not linked to other by covalent bonds. Crosslinking is accompanied by an increase in connectivity, through covalent bonds, between the various chains that make up the polymer. The crosslinking of linear or branched polymer chains is accompanied by an increase in the molecular dimensions of the chains, notably of the molar masses, and can lead to a network of crosslinked polymers being obtained. The crosslinking of a network of crosslinked polymers is accompanied by an increase in the mass fraction of insoluble material in good non-reactive solvents according to the definition given in WO2017/029413.

[0078] The crosslinking of the composition may be assessed by using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The crosslinking is assessed through the appearance of a rubbery plateau above the glass transition temperature or the melting temperature of the thermoplastic polymer at a frequency of 1 Hz.

[0079] The glass transition temperature, T.sub.g, is defined as the temperature at which the value of the damping factor, or loss factor, tan is at a maximum by dynamic mechanical analysis at 1 Hz. The damping factor, or loss factor, tan , is defined as the ratio of the loss modulus E to the storage modulus E (Mechanical Properties of Solid Polymers, Author(s): I. M. Ward, J. Sweeney; Editor: Wiley-Blackwell; Edition: 3rd Edition; Print ISBN: 9781444319507; DOI: 10.1002/9781119967125).

[0080] When a blend of thermoplastic polymers is used in step (a), the relevant glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) or melting temperature (T.sub.m) is the highest T.sub.g or T.sub.m of all the thermoplastic polymers being present in the blend at a content of at least 8 wt %, in particular at least 4 wt %, and notably at least 2 wt %, relative to the total weight of the blend. It is understood that it is referred to a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) when the polymer is amorphous and to a melt temperature when the polymer is semi-crystalline.

[0081] The initial temperature of dissociation, T.sub.dis(i), of the additive A is the temperature at which, in the mix considered, which can be the mix of step (a), in particular of step (a3), the composition resulting from step (b), or the composition of step (c), some intermolecular non-covalent bonds formed by molecules of additive A with other molecules of additive A or with the thermoplastic polymer start to break. In other terms aggregates of molecules of additive A with other molecules of additive A or with the thermoplastic polymer start to dissociate at the temperature T.sub.dis(i).

[0082] T.sub.dis(i) will thus depend on the nature of the thermoplastic polymer(s) provided in step (a) with which the additive A is mixed and on the quantity of said additive A.

[0083] T.sub.dis(i) is preferably determined by VT-FTIR experiments according to the methods described in the methods paragraph below. When VT-FTIR experiments are not available, the temperature T.sub.dis(i) may be determined by rheology using temperature sweep experiments according to the methods described in the methods paragraph below.

[0084] The final temperature of dissociation, T.sub.dis(f), of the additive A is the temperature at which, in the mix considered, which can be the mix of step (a), in particular of step (a3), the composition resulting from step (b), or the composition of step (c), all the intermolecular non-covalent bonds formed by molecules of additive A with other molecules of additive A or with the thermoplastic polymer are completely broken. In other terms, aggregates of molecules of additive A with other molecules of additive A or with the thermoplastic polymer are completely dissociated at the temperature T.sub.dis(f).

[0085] T.sub.dis(f) will thus depend on the nature of the thermoplastic polymer(s) provided in step (a) with which the additive A is mixed and on the quantity of said additive A.

[0086] T.sub.dis(f) is typically determined by VT-FTIR experiments according to the methods described in the methods paragraph below. When VT-FTIR experiments are not available, the temperature T.sub.dis(f) may be determined by rheology using temperature sweep experiments according to the methods described in the methods paragraph below.

[0087] By definition, for an additive A in a mix M, the final temperature of dissociation T.sub.dis(f) is strictly higher than the initial temperature of dissociation T.sub.dis(i).

[0088] A group comprising carbon according to the present invention is a group based on hydrocarbon, thus mainly consisting of atoms of carbon and hydrogen, which may also include one or more heteroatoms and/or be substituted by one or more halogens. The group preferably includes 1-50, more preferably 1-18, still more preferably 1-12 carbon atoms.

[0089] Heteroatom according to present invention designates atoms of sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, boron, phosphorus or silicon. When it replaces a carbon atom, such as a methylene group, the nitrogen is under the form NH or N(C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkyl)-, the sulfur is under the form S, SO or SO.sub.2.

[0090] Halogen according to present invention designates atoms of fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine.

[0091] The group comprising carbon may be aliphatic or aromatic.

[0092] Aliphatic according to the present invention designates an alkyl, alkenyl, alkanediyl, alkenediyl or cycloalkyl group. The valence of the group will be determined case-by-case.

[0093] In the context of the present invention, an aliphatic group may include heteroatoms. In particular, it may include ester, amide, ether, thioether, secondary or tertiary amine, carbonate, urethane, carbamide or anhydride functions. If applicable, the aliphatic group may be substituted notably by a halogen, an Rz, OH, NH.sub.2, NHRz, NRzRz, C(O)H, C(O)Rz, C(O)OH, C(O)NRzRz, C(O)ORz, OC(O)Rz, OC(O)ORz, OC(O)N(H)Rz, N(H)C(O)ORz, ORz, SH, SRz, SSRz, C(O)N(H)Rz, N(H)C(O)Rz group with Rz, Rz, identical or different, representing a C1-C50 alkyl radical.

[0094] An alkyl group according to the present invention designates a saturated, linear or branched hydrocarbon chain, preferably comprising 1-50 carbon atoms, more preferably 1-18 carbon atoms, still more preferably 1-12 carbon atoms. According to the present invention, ignoring the conventional sense of the term, an alkyl group may include one or more heteroatoms. In this way, the term alkyl in the context of the present invention also includes heteroalkyls, that are alkyl groups as defined above comprising one or more heteroatom(s).

[0095] An alkenyl group according to the present invention designates an unsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbon chain, preferably comprising 1-50 carbon atoms, more preferably 1-18 carbon atoms, still more preferably 1-12 carbon atoms. According to the invention, ignoring the conventional sense of the term, an alkenyl group may also include one or more heteroatoms. In this way, the term alkenyl in the context of the present invention also includes heteroalkenyls, that are alkenyl groups as defined above comprising one or more heteroatom(s).

[0096] An alkanediyl group according to the present invention designates a divalent, saturated, linear or branched hydrocarbon chain, preferably comprising 1-50 carbon atoms, more preferably 1-18 carbon atoms, still more preferably 1-12 carbon atoms. According to the invention, ignoring the strict sense of the term, an alkanediyl group may also include one or more heteroatoms. In this way, the term alkanediyl in the context of the present invention also includes heteroalkanediyls, that are alkanediyl groups as defined above comprising one or more heteroatom(s).

[0097] An alkenediyl group according to the present invention designates a divalent, unsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbon chain, preferably comprising 1-50 carbon atoms, more preferably 1-18 carbon atoms, still more preferably 1-12 carbon atoms, for example a vinylene (ethenylene) group or a propenylene group. According to the invention, ignoring the strict sense of the term, an alkenediyl group may also include one or more heteroatoms. In this way, the term alkenediyl in the context of the present invention also includes heteroalkenediyls, that are alkenediyl groups as defined above comprising one or more heteroatom(s).

[0098] A cycloalkyl group according to the present invention designates a cyclic alkyl chain, which may be saturated or partially unsaturated but not aromatic, preferably comprising 3-10 carbon atoms in the ring. The cyclic alkyl chain may include one or more heteroatoms; in this case it will be specifically called heterocycloalkyl. The group may include more than one ring, and in this way includes fused, linked or spiro rings. Examples include cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl groups. If applicable, the cycloalkyl group may be substituted notably by a halogen, an Rz, OH, NH.sub.2, NHRz, NRzRz, C(O)H, C(O)Rz, C(O)OH, C(O)NRzRz, C(O)ORz, OC(O)Rz, OC(O)ORz, OC(O)N(H)Rz, N(H)C(O)ORz, ORz, SH, SRz, SSRz, C(O)N(H)Rz, N(H)C(O)Rz group with Rz, Rz, identical or different, representing a C.sub.1-C.sub.50 alkyl radical. If applicable, the cycloalkyl group maybe divalent; in this case it is preferably called a cycloaliphatic radical.

[0099] Aromatic according to the present invention designates a monovalent or multivalent group comprising an aromatic hydrocarbon group. The valence of the group will be determined case-by-case.

[0100] The aromatic group may include heteroatoms; in this case it is called a heteroaromatic radical. In particular, it may include ester, amide, ether, thioether, secondary or tertiary amine, carbonate, urethane, carbamide or anhydride functions. An aromatic group may include one or more rings that are fused or covalently linked. If applicable, the aromatic group may be substituted notably by a halogen, an Rz, OH, NH.sub.2, NHRz, NRzRz, C(O)H, C(O)Rz, C(O)OH, C(O)NRzRz, C(O)ORz, OC(O)Rz, OC(O)ORz, OC(O)N(H)Rz, N(H)C(O)ORz, ORz, SH, SRz, SSRz, C(O)N(H)Rz, N(H)C(O)Rz group with Rz, Rz, identical or different, representing a C1-C50 alkyl radical, or by a functional group chosen from among the functional groups that are polymerisable.

[0101] The term aromatic includes arylaromatic groups, that is a group comprising at least one aromatic group and at least one aliphatic group, as defined. The aliphatic group may be linked to one part of the molecule and the aromatic group to another part of the molecule. The group may include two aromatic groups, each linked to a part of the molecule and linked between them by an aliphatic chain.

[0102] Aryl according to the present invention designates an aromatic hydrocarbon group. The term aryl includes aralkyl and alkyl-aryl groups. The aromatic hydrocarbon group may be substituted once or more than once notably by a halogen, an Rz, OH, NH.sub.2, NHRz, NRzRz, C(O)H, C(O)Rz, C(O)OH, C(O)NRzRz, C(O)ORz, OC(O)Rz, OC(O)ORz, OC(O)N(H)Rz, N(H)C(O)ORz, ORz, SH, SRz, SSRz, C(O)N(H)Rz, N(H)C(O)Rz group with Rz, Rz, identical or different, representing a C1-C50 alkyl radical.

[0103] Alkyl-aryl according to the present invention designates an alkyl group, as defined above, linked to the rest of the molecule through an aromatic group, as defined above.

[0104] Aralkyl according to the present invention designates an aryl group, as defined above, linked to the rest of the molecule through an aliphatic group, as defined above.

[0105] Heteroaryl according to the present invention designates an aryl group in which at least one of the atoms of the aromatic ring is a heteroatom. Heteroalkyl-aryl according to the present invention designates an alkyl-aryl group, as defined, substituted by at least one heteroatom.

[0106] Heteroaralkyl according to the present invention designates an aralkyl group, as defined, substituted by at least one heteroatom.

[0107] The process of the invention comprises the following steps [0108] (a) heating, to a temperature T.sub.mix, a mix M comprising: [0109] a thermoplastic polymer as defined herein, and [0110] an additive A as defined herein, [0111] wherein T.sub.mix is higher than the glass transition temperature or the melting temperature of the thermoplastic polymer used in step (a) and [0112] T.sub.mix is equal to or lower than the initial temperature of dissociation T.sub.dis(i) of the additive A in the mix of step (a), [0113] (b) recovering a composition comprising the polymer of step (a), which is not crosslinked, and the additive A, and [0114] (c) curing the non-crosslinked composition of step (b) at a temperature T.sub.c to provide the crosslinked polymer composition, [0115] wherein T.sub.c satisfies the following [0116] T.sub.c>(T.sub.dis(i)+T.sub.dis(f))/2, where T.sub.dis(i) is the initial temperature of dissociation of the additive A in the mix of step (a) and T.sub.dis(f) is the final temperature of dissociation of the additive A in the composition of step (c).

The Thermoplastic Polymer

[0117] The thermoplastic polymer used in step (a) comprises pending boronic ester groups independently selected in the group consisting of dioxaborolane and dioxaborinane of the following formula EB-1 and EB-2:

##STR00008##

in which [0118] Rx, Rv and Rw are identical or different and each represent a hydrogen atom or a group comprising carbon, or form together, as a pair, an aliphatic or an aromatic ring, and [0119] Ry is a group comprising carbon, Ry being linked to the boron atom of the dioxaborolane or dioxaborinane ring by a covalent bond through a carbon atom.

[0120] When Rx and Rv form together an aliphatic or an aromatic ring, the corresponding group is referenced as {Rx, Rv}. The same applies for the group formed by Rx and Rw.

[0121] Each pending boronic ester group is linked to the polymer either by one or more carbon atom(s) of the dioxaborolane ordioxaborinane ring, i.e. via R.sub.x, R.sub.w and/or, if applicable, R.sub.v, or by the boron atom of the dioxaborolane or dioxaborinane ring, i.e. via R.sub.y. Accordingly: [0122] Ry is further linked to the polymer directly by a covalent bond or through a functional group G covalently linked to the polymer; or [0123] the substituent selected from Rx, Rw, Rv, {Rx, Rw} or {Rx, Rv} is linked to the polymer by a covalent bond or through a functional group G covalently linked to the polymer.

[0124] Preferably, Rx, Rw and Rv are identical or different and each represents an alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl alkyl-aryl or cycloalkyl group. Said alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl alkyl-aryl or cycloalkyl group can contain heteroatoms, in particular chosen from among O, N, S or Si, and/or may be substituted. One or more, preferably one to four, methylene unit(s) of said alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl alkyl-aryl or cycloalkyl group are optionally replaced by O, S, C(O), SO.sub.2, NH or N(C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl)-. In particular, Rx and/or Rw and/or Rv form together, as pairs, an aliphatic or aromatic ring.

[0125] In particular, these radicals Rx, Rw and Rv may be substituted by functional groups notably selected from a halogen, an Rz, OH, NH.sub.2, NHRz, NRzRz, C(O)H, C(O)Rz, C(O)OH, C(O)NRzRz, C(O)ORz, OC(O)Rz, OC(O)ORz, OC(O)N(H)Rz, N(H)C(O)ORz, ORz, SH, SRz, SSRz, C(O)N(H)Rz, N(H)C(O)Rz group with Rz, Rz, identical or different, representing a C.sub.1-C.sub.50 alkyl group.

[0126] In particular, these radicals Rx, Rw and Rv may include ester, amide, carbamate, ether, thioether, secondary or tertiary amine, carbonate, urethane, carbamide (id est urea function of formula NHC(O)NH) or anhydride functions.

[0127] Preferably, Ry represents an alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkyl-aryl or cycloalkyl group. Said alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkyl-aryl or cycloalkyl group can contain heteroatoms, in particular chosen from among O, N, S or Si, and/or may be substituted. One or more, preferably one to four, methylene unit(s) of said alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkyl-aryl or cycloalkyl group are optionally replaced by O, S, C(O), SO.sub.2, NH or N(C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl)-. In particular, this radical Ry may be substituted by functional groups, notably selected from a halogen, an Rz, OH, NH.sub.2, NHRz, NRzRz, C(O)H, C(O)Rz, C(O)OH, C(O)NRzRz, C(O)ORz, OC(O)Rz, OC(O)ORz, OC(O)N(H)Rz, N(H)C(O)ORz, ORz, SH, SRz, SSRz, C(O)N(H)Rz, N(H)C(O)Rz group with Rz, Rz, identical or different, representing a C.sub.1-C.sub.50 alkyl radical. In particular, this radical Ry may include ester, amide, carbamate, ether, thioether, secondary or tertiary amine, carbonate, urethane, carbamide (id est urea function of formula NHC(O)NH) or anhydride functions. Each pending boronic ester groups is preferably linked, through Rx and/or Ry, to a polymer chain or to a functional group G covalently linked to the polymer, as defined below. When their substituents {Rx, Rw} or {Rx, Rv} together form an aliphatic or an aromatic ring, the pending boronic ester groups may be linked, through their substituents {Rx, Rw} or {Rx, Rv} and/or Ry, to a polymer chain or to a functional group G covalently linked to polymer chains, as defined below. The pending boronic ester group(s) may notably be selected among the boronic ester groups described in example 1 of WO2017/029413, the content of which being incorporated by reference.

[0128] According to some embodiments, EB-1 and EB-2 are selected in the group consisting of

##STR00009##

in which the wavy line represents the point of attachment to the functional group G which is directly linked to the polymer by covalent bond.

[0129] As non-limiting examples, the functional group G may be the result of the reaction of a thiol functions with an alkene bond of polydienes, such as polybutadiene, polyisoprene and their copolymers, vinyl copolymers with pending alkene groups, or polyolefins obtained by ring-opening metathesis polymerisation (ROMP) or by acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) (Charles E. Hoyle, Christopher N. Bowman, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 1540-1573; Kemal Arda Gunay, Patrick Theato, Harm-Anton Klok, Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 2013, 51, 1-28). The functional group G may also be the result of radical grafting of maleimide or methacrylic, acrylic, styrenic or maleic ester functions to polyethylene and polypropylene for example (G. Moad, Prog. Polym. Sci. 1999, 24, 81-142; Elisa Passagliaa, Serena Coiai, Sylvain Augier, Prog. Polym. Sci. 2009, 34, 911-947). The functional group G may be the result of reaction of isocyanate functions react with the pending alcohol, amine or thiol groups on the polymers (Kemal Arda Gnay, Patrick Theato, Harm-Anton Klok, Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 2013, 51, 1-28; Charles E. Hoyle, Andrew B. Lowe, Christopher N. Bowman, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 1355-1387). The functional group G may also be the result of Michael additions of electrophilic alkene groups with nucleophiles such as thiols, primary or secondary amines or phosphines (Brian D. Mather, Kalpana Viswanathan, Kevin M. Miller, Timothy E. Long, Prog. Polym. Sci. 2006, 31, 487-531). Among the electrophilic alkene groups, non-limiting examples include acrylates, acrylamides, maleimides, methacrylates and vinyl sulfones. The functional group G may also be the result of a nucleophilic substitution or a ring-opening reaction with nucleophilic functions such as alcohols, thiols, amines or carboxylic acids (Kemal Arda Gunay, Patrick Theato, Harm-Anton Klok, Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 2013, 51, 1-28). These nucleophilic functions can, for example, open epoxides present in the main chain of the polymers, such as are found in epoxidised natural rubber, or pending epoxide functions such as are found in vinylic copolymers prepared with glycidyl methacrylate. The functional group G may also be ester, thioester or amide function resulting from reaction of alcohol, thiol or amine function with pending ester or activated ester function. This approach is notably used for vinylic polymers functionalised with pending ester functions, such as for example poly(methyl methacrylate). The functional groups enabling the molecule containing the boronic ester function to be covalently linked to the polymer are therefore numerous and varied, and the person skilled in the art knows how to select the functional group of choice depending on the functions present on the polymer and the grafting conditions (temperature, reaction medium (molten state or in solution), kinetics, use of a catalyst, etc.).

[0130] According to some embodiments, the thermoplastic polymer comprising two or more pending boronic ester groups used in step (a) is as defined for thermoplastic polymer carrying boronic ester functional groups P1 in WO2017/029413, in particular on page 26, line 10 to page 30, line 2 and page 37, line 30 to page 38, line 17, the content of which being incorporated herein by reference.

[0131] The thermoplastic polymer and the additive A react together to form crosslinks under the processing conditions described hereafter, via boronic ester metathesis reaction as described in WO2017/029413 on page 28, line 27 to page 29, 19, page 30, line 4 to page 32, line 33, page 39, line 19 to page 40, line 19 and on FIG. 2, the content of which being incorporated herein by reference. In particular, the molar ratio of [repetition units of polymer not containing pending boronic ester functions]/[repetition units of polymer containing pending boronic ester functions] is preferably between 0.01 and 1000, more preferably between 0.1 and 250, and still more preferably between 1 and 100. The obtained crosslinks are exchangeable by boronic metathesis reactions. The inventors think that the exchange reactions between boronic esters enables a circulation of crosslinks and could explain the thermoplastic behavior when the composition, in itself, is insoluble like a thermoset.

[0132] The thermoplastic polymer may comprise additional side groups that are deprived of a boronic ester group. In particular, these side groups may comprise functions able to form non-covalent bonds such as aryl group, in particular phenyl group, halogen, amide function of formula NHC(O), urea function of formula NHC(O)NH and carbamate function of formula OC(O)NH.

[0133] Halogen atom are able to form dipole-dipole interactions. Aromatic rings are able to achieve n-T stacking.

[0134] In some embodiments, a blend of thermoplastic polymers comprising pending boronic ester groups as defined above is used in step (a).

[0135] In some embodiments, a blend of thermoplastic polymers comprising pending boronic ester groups as defined above and of thermoplastics comprising no pending boronic ester group as defined above is used in step (a).

Additive A

[0136] Additive A is a molecule able to react with the pending boronic ester groups of the thermoplastic polymer to form a crosslinked polymer composition, preferably a crosslinked network, containing pending links and crosslinks that are exchangeable by boronic ester metathesis reactions and able to form intermolecular non-covalent interactions with other molecules of additive A and/or with the thermoplastic polymer. To this end, each molecule of additive A comprises: [0137] two boronic ester functions. Each boronic ester function comprises a dioxaborolane moiety or a dioxaborinane moiety. The two boronic ester functions are linked to the rest of the molecule either both by at least one carbon atom of the dioxaborolane or dioxaborinane ring or both by the boron atom of the dioxaborolane or dioxaborinane ring, and [0138] two or more functions F, identical or different, selected in the group consisting of an amide function of formula NHC(O), a urea function of formula NHC(O)NH and a carbamate function of formula OC(O)NH.

[0139] The molecules of additive A may also contain other functions able to form intermolecular non-covalent interactions such as halogen atoms, which are able to form dipole-dipole interactions, aliphatic groups, which are capable of van der Waals interactions, and aromatic rings, which are able to achieve n-T stacking. Preferably, the molecules of additive A further comprise aromatic rings, in particular optionally substituted phenyl groups.

[0140] Preferably, the molecule of additive A each comprises two or more, and notably two, identical functions F selected in the group consisting of an amide function of formula NHC(O), a urea function of formula NHC(O)NH and a carbamate function of formula OC(O)NH.

[0141] The molecules of additive A are preferably identical to each other.

[0142] Depending on the temperature, the molecules of additive A are able to associate, it means to form intermolecular non-covalent interactions with other molecules of additive A and/or with the thermoplastic polymer. With an increase of temperature, the molecules will later dissociate from the other molecules of additive A and/or from the thermoplastic polymer. In the context of the present invention, additive A and the thermoplastic polymer of step (a) are selected so that the initial temperature of dissociation T.sub.dis(i) of the molecules of additive A is higher than the glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) or melting temperature (T.sub.m) of the thermoplastic polymer used in the process.

[0143] Examples of intermolecular non-covalent bonds includes hydrogen bonds, notably formed by the urea, amide and/or carbamate functions, n-T stacking when aromatic groups are present, Van der Waals interactions, dipole-dipole interactions and coordination bonds.

[0144] Thus, the molecules of additive A are able to form intermolecular non-covalent interactions with other molecules of additive A and/or with the thermoplastic polymer through the presence of at least the two or more functions F, identical or different, selected in the group consisting of an amide function of formula NHC(O), a urea function of formula NHC(O)NH and a carbamate function of formula OC(O)NH.

[0145] At a temperature lower than or equal to the initial temperature of dissociation T.sub.dis(i), the formation of such intermolecular non-covalent interaction prevents the crosslinking between the molecules of additive A and the thermoplastic polymer. Indeed, when such intermolecular non-covalent interactions are formed, the molecules of additive A are in a spatial orientation and arrangement making the boronic ester function(s) unavailable for reacting with the pending boronic ester groups of the thermoplastic polymer, and thus achieving crosslinking.

[0146] As the temperature T.sub.mix at which step (a) is carried out is lower than or equal to T.sub.dis(i), the molecules of additive A at T.sub.mix are associated together and/or with the thermoplastic polymer by non-covalent interactions.

[0147] Preferably, each molecule of additive A independently comprises a radical Y between the two boronic ester functions, Y being defined as the core of the molecule. Preferably, the core of the molecule of additive A presents an element of symmetry chosen from a mirror plan or a C2 axis of rotation. Preferentially, the molecule, and not only its core Y, presents an element of symmetry chosen from a mirror plan or a C2 axis of rotation.

[0148] Preferably, the molecule of additive A is of formula (IA) or (IB).

[0149] According to one embodiment, the molecule of additive A is of formula (IA):

##STR00010##

in which [0150] Ar.sub.i is an aromatic group, [0151] F.sub.1 and F.sub.2, identical or different, are selected in the group consisting of NHC(O), C(O)NH, NHC(O)NH, OC(O)NH and NHC(O)O; [0152] a, b, i and j, identical or different, are natural integers equal to 0 or 1; [0153] when a is 1: [0154] R.sub.2 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkanediyl or a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkenediyl, said alkanediyl or alkenediyl being optionally substituted with one or more halogen(s), R.sub.3 is H or [0155] R.sub.2 further forms with R.sub.3 an aromatic group provided that i=0, said aromatic group being optionally substituted by one or more halogen(s); [0156] when a is 0: F.sub.1 is directly linked to the carbon atom of the ester boronic and R.sub.3 is H; [0157] when b is 1: [0158] R.sub.4 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkanediyl or a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkenediyl, said alkanediyl or alkenediyl being optionally substituted with one or more halogen(s), R.sub.5 is H or [0159] R.sub.4 further forms with R.sub.5 an aromatic group provided that j=0, said aromatic group being optionally substituted by one or more halogen(s); [0160] when b is 0, F.sub.2 is directly linked to the carbon atom of the ester boronic and R.sub.5 is H; [0161] R.sub.1 and R.sub.6, identical or different, are each a group comprising carbon, preferably substituted with one or more halogen(s).

[0162] Preferably, the substituent eventually presents on radical(s) Ar.sub.1, R.sub.1 to R.sub.6 does not comprise a function selected in the group consisting of NHC(O), C(O)NH, NHC(O)NH, OC(O)NH and NHC(O)O. Thus, only F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 can be an amide function, a urea function, a carbamate function.

[0163] Advantageously, Ar.sub.1 has an element of symmetry chosen from a mirror plan or a C2 axis of rotation. Ar.sub.1 is preferably an aryl or heteroaryl, under their divalent form. More preferably, Ar.sub.1 is a non-substituted phenylene. More preferably, Ar.sub.1 is a non-substituted phenylene and the boronic ester functions are in para; thus the molecule corresponds to formula:

##STR00011##

[0164] In all embodiments:

[0165] Preferably, i=j.

[0166] Preferably, F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 are identical and selected from an amide function, a carbamate function and a urea function.

[0167] Preferably, a=b.

[0168] R.sub.2 is preferably CH.sub.2 or CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or, provided that i=0, R.sub.2 can form with R.sub.3 a phenylene, corresponding then with the boronic ester to the group of the following formula:

##STR00012##

[0169] R.sub.4 is preferably CH.sub.2 or CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or, provided that j=0, R.sub.4 can form with R.sub.5 a phenylene, corresponding then with the boronic ester to the group of the following formula:

##STR00013##

[0170] R.sub.2 and R.sub.4 are preferably identical.

[0171] R.sub.1 and R.sub.6 can be broadly independently selected from groups comprising carbon. R.sub.1 and R.sub.6, identical or different, preferably represent an alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroalkyl or heterocycloalkyl group, and each of these groups may be substituted, in particular by one or more halogen atom(s). Preferentially, R.sub.1 and R.sub.6 are by themselves crystalline, accordingly the melting point of their corresponding molecule is preferably higher than 0 C. R.sub.1 and R.sub.6, identical or different, preferably represent cyclohexyl, alkyl group comprising 1 to 6 carbon atoms or phenyl.

[0172] In particular, Ar.sub.1, F.sub.1, F.sub.2, i, j, R.sub.3, R.sub.5, a, b, R.sub.2 and R.sub.4 are selected so that the molecule presents an element of symmetry chosen from a mirror plan or a C2 axis of rotation.

[0173] According to some embodiments, molecules of additive A are selected in the group consisting of

##STR00014## ##STR00015##

[0174] According to another embodiment, the molecule of additive A is of formula (IB):

##STR00016##

in which [0175] Ar.sub.2 and Ar.sub.3, identical or different, are an aromatic group; [0176] F.sub.1 and F.sub.2, identical or different, are selected in the group consisting of NHC(O), C(O)NH, NHC(O)NH, OC(O)NH and NHC(O)O; [0177] a, b, i and j, identical or different, are natural integers equal to 0 or 1; [0178] when a is 1: [0179] R.sub.2 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkanediyl or a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkenediyl, said alkanediyl or alkendiyl being optionally substituted with one or more halogen(s), R.sub.3 is H, or [0180] R.sub.2 further forms with R.sub.3 an aromatic group provided that i=0, said aromatic group being optionally substituted by one or more halogen(s); [0181] when a is 0, F.sub.1 is directly linked to the carbon atom of the boronic ester and R.sub.3 is H; [0182] when b is 1: [0183] R.sub.4 is an C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkanediyl, or a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkenediyl, said alkanediyl or alkendiyl being optionally substituted with one or more halogen(s), R.sub.5 is H or [0184] R.sub.4 further forms with R.sub.5 an aromatic group provided that j=0, said aromatic group being optionally substituted by one or more halogen(s); [0185] when b is 0, F.sub.2 is directly linked to the carbon atom of the ester boronic and R.sub.5 is H; [0186] R.sub.7 is a group comprising carbon.

[0187] Preferably, the substituent eventually presents on radical(s) Ar.sub.2, Ar.sub.3, R.sub.2 to R.sub.5 and R.sub.7 does not comprise a function selected in the group consisting of NHC(O), C(O)NH, NHC(O)NH, OC(O)NH and NHC(O)O. Thus, only F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 can be an amide function, an urea function, a carbamate function.

[0188] R.sub.7 can be broadly selected from groups comprising carbon. R.sub.7 preferably represents an alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroalkyl or heterocycloalkyl group, under their divalent form, and each of these divalent groups may be substituted, in particular by one or more halogen atom(s). R.sub.7 preferably represents phenylene. More preferably, R.sub.7 is a non-substituted phenylene and F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 are in para position; thus the molecule corresponds to formula:

##STR00017##

[0189] Preferably, F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 are both an amide function or a carbamate function or a urea function.

[0190] Advantageously, F.sub.1R.sub.7F.sub.2 has an element of symmetry chosen from a mirror plan or a C2 axis of rotation.

[0191] In all embodiments:

[0192] Preferably, i=j.

[0193] Preferably, a=b.

[0194] R.sub.2 is preferably CH.sub.2 or CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or provided that i=0, R.sub.2 can form with R.sub.3 a phenylene, corresponding then with the boronic ester to the group of the following formula:

##STR00018##

[0195] R.sub.4 is preferably CH.sub.2 or CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or provided that j=0, R.sub.4 can form with R.sub.5 a phenylene, corresponding then with the boronic ester to the group of the following formula:

##STR00019##

[0196] R.sub.2 and R.sub.4 are preferably identical.

[0197] Ar.sub.2 and Ar.sub.3, identical or different, are an aryl or heteroaryl. Preferentially, Ar.sub.2 and Ar.sub.3 are by themselves crystalline, accordingly the melting point of their corresponding molecule is preferably higher than 0 C. More preferably, Ar.sub.2 is a non-substituted phenylene. More preferably, Ar.sub.2 is a non-substituted phenylene.

[0198] In particular, Ar.sub.2, Ar.sub.3, F.sub.1, F.sub.2, i, j, R.sub.2 to R.sub.5, a, b and R.sub.7 are selected so that the molecule presents an element of symmetry chosen from a mirror plan or a C2 axis of rotation.

[0199] According to some embodiments, molecules of additive A are selected in the group consisting of

##STR00020##

[0200] The use of a compound of formula (IA) or of a compound of formula (IB) to obtain a composition comprising crosslinked polymers/vitrimers, containing pending links and crosslinks that are exchangeable by boronic ester metathesis reactions will depend on the nature of the atom through which the pending boronic ester functional groups are linked to the thermoplastic polymer.

[0201] In this way, when the pending boronic ester groups of formula EB-1 or EB-2 are linked to the thermoplastic polymer by at least one carbon atom of the dioxaborolane or dioxaborinane ring, meaning via R.sub.x, R.sub.w and/or, if applicable, R.sub.v, a compound of formula (IA) is chosen as the molecule of additive A.

[0202] In this way, when the pending boronic ester groups of formula EB-1 or EB-2 are linked to the thermoplastic polymer by the boron atom of the dioxaborolane or dioxaborinane ring, meaning via R.sub.y, a compound of formula (IB) is chosen as the molecule of additive A.

Preferred Embodiments of the Process of the Invention

Step (a)

[0203] Preferably, the mix of step (a) comprises from 0.05 to 10 wt %, preferably from 0.1 to 3.5 wt %, more preferably from 0.5 to 1.5 wt % of the additive A relative to the weight of the thermoplastic polymer or blend thereof.

[0204] Advantageously, step (a) comprises the following successive sub-steps: [0205] (a1) providing a thermoplastic polymer, the thermoplastic polymer comprising pending boronic ester groups as defined herein, [0206] (a2) providing an additive A as defined herein, [0207] (a3) mixing the thermoplastic polymer of step (a1) and the additive A of step (a2) at a processing temperature T.sub.mix, [0208] wherein T.sub.mix is higher than the glass transition temperature or the melting temperature of the thermoplastic polymer provided in step (a1) and equal to or lower than the initial temperature of dissociation T.sub.dis(i) of the additive A [in the mix of step (a3)].

[0209] Advantageously, step (a3) is carried out for a time ranging from 30 seconds to 2 hours, preferably from 1 min to 1 hour, even more preferably from 2 min to 30 min. It is understood that the duration of step (a3) is set so that the thermoplastic polymer does not degrade during step (a3).

[0210] The processing temperature T.sub.mix is preferably comprised between the glass transition temperature, T.sub.g, or the melting temperature T.sub.m, of the thermoplastic polymer with which additive A is mixed, and the initial temperature of dissociation T.sub.dis(i) of the additive A in the mix of step (a), more preferably between T.sub.g+5 C., or T.sub.m+5 C., and T.sub.dis(i)5 C. even more preferably between T.sub.g+10 C. or T.sub.m+10 C. and T.sub.dis(i)10 C.

[0211] At the end of step (a), a non-crosslinked polymer composition comprising the thermoplastic polymer, or a blend thereof, in mixture with additive A is provided. In other terms, the non-crosslinked composition comprises the thermoplastic polymer comprising pending boronic ester groups, or a blend thereof, or a blend of thereof with thermoplastics not containing pending boronic ester group, with which additive A is mixed. At a temperature lower than the initial temperature of dissociation T.sub.dis(i) of the additive A, molecules of additive A in the non-crosslinked polymer composition forms non-covalent interactions with other molecules of additive A and/or with the thermoplastic polymer, blocking the exchange reaction by metathesis between boronic ester substituents of the polymer and of the additive A.

Step (b)

[0212] In step (b), the non-crosslinked polymer composition is recovered. During recovering, the composition is typically shaped via processes known from the skilled person, including, compression molding, injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, fiber spinning, powder coating, rotational molding, and thermoforming.

[0213] Steps (a) and (b) may be achieved simultaneously by performing extrusion. Accordingly, the mix of step (a) is carried out in an extruder.

[0214] Step (b) may also include the addition in the non-crosslinked composition of additives such as pigments, colorants, blueing agents, fillers, plasticizers, impact modifiers, fibers, flame retardants, antioxidants, lubricants, wood, glass and metal.

[0215] The non-crosslinked polymer recovered at step (b) may be stored, transported, used in suitable applications, granulated, dispersed in a resin, etc.

[0216] All the operations achieved in step (b) are carried out at a temperature equal to or lower than the initial temperature of dissociation T.sub.dis(i) of the additive A in the non-crosslinked polymer composition.

Step (c)

[0217] During the curing step, the non-crosslinked polymer composition recovered at step (b) is heated at a temperature T.sub.c so that the intermolecular non-covalent bonds formed by the additive A molecules in the non-crosslinked polymer composition are completely broken, i.e. the aggregated molecules of additive A are dissociated, and the ester boronic functions of the additive A and of the polymer crosslink to afford a crosslinked polymer composition, in particular a vitrimer composition. At this step, the additive A plays its function of crosslinking agent.

[0218] At temperature T.sub.c crosslinking can occur. T.sub.c satisfies the following:

[0219] T.sub.c(T.sub.dis(i)+T.sub.dis(f))/2, where T.sub.dis(i) is the initial temperature of dissociation in the mix of step (a) and T.sub.dis(f) is the final temperature of dissociation of the additive A in the composition of step (c).

[0220] It is understood that the T.sub.c temperature is set so as to be lower than the temperature at which the thermoplastic polymer, or blend thereof, or additive A starts to degrade, such degradation temperature being known by the skilled person.

[0221] Preferably, T.sub.c is equal or higher than T.sub.dis(f). Preferably, T.sub.c is equal or lower than T.sub.dis(f)+50 C., preferably equal or lower than T.sub.dis(f)+40 C.

[0222] According to a preferred embodiment, step (c) is carried out for a time ranging from 1 min to 1 hour, preferably from 2 min to 30 min, even more preferably from 5 min to 20 min. It is understood that the duration of step (c) is set so that the thermoplastic polymer does not degrade at the temperature T.sub.c.

[0223] Step (c) is typically performed by compression molding, injection molding and oven curing.

Methods

Determination of the Initial and Final Temperatures of Dissociation T.sub.dis(i) and T.sub.dis(f) of the Additive A [0224] By performing a Variable-Temperature Fourier-Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (VT-FTIR) experiment on a mix of step (a)

[0225] This method is the most accurate method.

[0226] A relevant mix comprising the thermoplastic polymer comprising pending boronic ester groups and the additive A as defined in the present invention, is gradually heated over time, by maintaining isotherms for 3 minutes every 5 C. FTIR gives molecular information on the degree of association of the molecules of additive A, by following the stretch band of a non-covalent bond formed by the molecules of additive A, for example the hydrogen bonded NH stretch band of an amide function at 3292 cm.sup.1. While the temperature increases, the number of the monitored non-covalent bonds decreases until complete disappearance, and thus the normalized intensity a of the corresponding stretch band also decreases down to zero, indicating the dissociation of the molecules of additive A in the mix. The protocol employed to perform this experiment (3-minute isotherms), allows the system to be closer to equilibrium than the temperature sweep experiment in rheology described below, thus giving information on the system at the minute timescale. Thus, the dissociation of molecules of additive A starts when the normalized intensity of the monitored stretch band starts to decrease (dashed line in FIG. 1A), the corresponding temperature being the initial temperature of dissociation T.sub.dis(i) of the additive A. The final temperature of dissolution T.sub.dis(f) of the additive A corresponds to the temperature at which this stretch band disappears, i.e. the normalized intensity a is equal to 0 (dashed circle in FIG. 1A). [0227] By performing a temperature sweep experiment in rheology on a mix of step (a)

[0228] When VT-FTIR is not available, this less accurate method can be used.

[0229] A relevant mix comprising the thermoplastic polymer comprising pending boronic ester groups and the additive A as defined in the present invention, is gradually heated over time, typically at 10 C./min. Shear storage modulus (G) and loss modulus (G) are measured at a frequency of 1 rad/s during the heating. With heating, shear storage (G) and loss (G) moduli decrease with temperature, indicating a fluidification of the system, which is expected for a thermoplastic. From a temperature T (dashed line in FIG. 1B) the storage modulus (G; black solid curved line) increases. The loss modulus (G; grey dashed curved line) also increases at a temperature slightly higher than for G. This increase in storage and loss moduli reflects the crosslinking reaction taking place between the thermoplastic polymer and the dissociated additive A. The initial temperature of dissociation T.sub.dis(i) is about 30 C.-50 C. lower than the temperature at which the storage modulus G start to increase.

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Synthesis of Additive 1 (According to the Invention)

##STR00021##

[0230] N-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide. 3-Aminopropane-1,2-diol (2.0 g, 22 mmol) and triethylamine (3.26 mL, 0.024 mol) were dissolved in 15 mL of DMF and cooled to 0 C. under N.sub.2 atmosphere. In a separate flask, cyclohexanecarbonyl chloride (3.22 g, 22 mmol) was solubilized in 10 mL of DMF and added dropwise to the solution of 3-aminopropane-1,2-diol and triethylamine. The reaction was kept at 0 C. for 1 hour and let to warm up to room temperature for 18 additional hours. The reaction mixture was added to 300 mL brine and extracted with 550 mL of 1-butanol. The organic fractions were combined, washed with 150 mL of 0.5 M NaOH.sub.(aq), 150 mL 0.5 M of HCl.sub.(aq) and 150 mL brine, and then dried over anhydrous MgSO.sub.4. The solvent was removed under vacuum and the solids were washed with diethyl ether, yielding a white powder (1.72 g, yield=39%).

[0231] .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d.sub.6, 25 C., TMS) 7.71 (t, J=5.8 Hz, 1H), 4.78 (s, 1H), 4.55 (d, J=5.6 Hz, 1H), 3.44 (t, J=5.7 Hz, 1H), 3.25 (s, 2H), 3.14 (ddd, J=13.4, 6.0, 5.2 Hz, 1H), 2.96 (ddd, J=13.4, 6.4, 5.5 Hz, 1H), 2.12 (ddd, J=11.4, 8.1, 3.3 Hz, 1H), 1.78-1.52 (m, 5H), 1.41-1.02 (m, 5H). .sup.13C NMR (101 MHz, DMSO-d.sub.6, 25 C.) 175.76, 70.59, 63.61, 43.89, 41.94, 29.32, 25.49, 25.28. Splitting of the peaks of cyclohexyl groups in .sup.13C NMR was observed.

##STR00022##

[0232] Crosslinking agent 1. N-(2,3-Dihydroxypropyl) cyclohexanecarboxamide (1.76 g, 8.78 mmol), benzene-1,4-diboronic acid (0.728 g, 4.39 mmol), water (5 mL, 0.28 mol) and ethanol (5 mL, 0.109 mol) were added to a round-bottom flask with 90 mL toluene. The flask was connected to a Dean-Stark apparatus and the mixture was heated to reflux. The reaction was cooled after the purging liquid was clear for 3 purges (45 mL). Solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the product was crystallized from acetonitrile/DMF after hot filtration yielding crosslinking agent 1 as a white solid (1.49 g, yield=60%).

[0233] .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d.sub.6, 25 C., TMS) 7.93 (t, J=5.9 Hz, 2H), 7.73 (s, 4H), 4.68-4.56 (m, 2H), 4.33 (t, J=8.6 Hz, 2H), 4.02 (dd, J=9.1, 6.5 Hz, 2H), 3.41-3.19 (m, 4H), 2.12 (tt, J=11.3, 3.4 Hz, 2H), 1.78-1.50 (m, 10H), 1.41-0.99 (m, 10H). .sup.13C NMR (101 MHz, DMSO-d.sub.6, 25 C.) 175.89, 133.81, 75.97, 68.23, 43.79, 42.01, 29.09, 25.44, 25.21. Carbon adjacent to the Boron could not be observed. Splitting of the peaks of cyclohexyl groups in .sup.13C NMR was observed. ESI-MS: m/z calcd. for C.sub.26H.sub.38B.sub.2N.sub.2O.sub.6H.sup.+: 497.2989. found: 497.2354.

Structure of the Additive 1:

##STR00023##

Example 2: Identification of the Processing Temperature and Curing Time for a Given Polymer Matrix and Additive

[0234] In this example, we used additive 1 obtained in example 1 and a polymer P with pending dioxaborolanes; M.sub.n=104 kg/mol, 5.7 mol % of repeating unit carrying a pending dioxaborolane, 86.4 mol % of 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate; 7.9 mol % of styrene; T.sub.g=12 C.). Polymer P has the following formula:

##STR00024##

i) DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry);

[0235] First, the melting point of additive A is determined by DSC. From DSC (FIG. 1C), 1 melts at 262 C. with an enthalpy of melting of 192 J/g. This temperature is the limit at which additive can be processed, independently of the polymer matrix.

[0236] After blending 1 and P (1 wt % of 1) by extrusion at 100 C. for 10 minutes, DSC of the resulting mixture was performed (FIG. 1D). Since the weight loading is low, the signal is not very strong, but a melting peak is recognizable between 175 and 215 C., with a peak at 193 C., which is the reactive melting of 1 in P. It has to be noted that the dissociation temperature in the polymer is around 70 C. lower than for molecule 1 alone, reflecting the interactions (van der Waals interactions, hydrogen bonds, pi-pi interactions, covalent coordination bond for example) taking place between the additive and the polymer matrix.

ii) VT-FTIR (Variable-Temperature Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy);

[0237] VT-FTIR, was performed by maintaining isotherms for 3 minutes every 5 C. (FIG. 1A). FITR gives molecular information on the degree of aggregation of the additive 1, by following the hydrogen bonded NH stretch band of the amide bonds at 3292 cm.sup.1. Typically, this bands decreases and disappears when the number of hydrogen bonds declines, this is an indication of the melting and dissolution of 1 into the polymer matrix. The method that is employed to perform this experiment (3-minute isotherms), allows the system to be closer to equilibrium than the rheology experiments described below, thus giving information on the system in the minute timescale. Here, melting starts at 100 C., with a small fraction of disassembled molecules. Melting continues gradually until 200 C., when no more hydrogen-bonded amides can be observed. With this, a curing step can be designed where the crosslinking temperature T.sub.c should be equal to or higher than (T.sub.dis(i)+T.sub.dis(f))/2, which is 150 C. for this system. Accordingly, a curing step has been designed to be performed at 220 C. for 10 minutes. Crosslinking should be performed at a temperature and for a duration for which the polymer will not degrade. This information is known to those skilled in the art.

iii) Rheology.

[0238] To evidence and quantify the crosslinking reaction resulting from the melting of 1 in P, a temperature sweep experiment was performed in rheology on a mixture of P and 1, at 1 wt % of 1 (FIG. 1B). The sample was heated at 10 C./min from 50 to 250 C. and the shear storage (G) and loss (G) moduli were measured at a frequency of 1 rad/s. From 50 to 160 C., both moduli decrease with temperature, indicating a fluidification of the system, which is expected for a thermoplastic. From 160 C., the storage modulus (G) increases from 500 Pa to 16000 Pa at 240 C., when it reaches a plateau. This increase in storage and loss moduli reflects the crosslinking reaction taking place between polymer P and the melted additive 1. From rheology and DSC, a maximum temperature for processing of P with 1 without crosslinking can be deduced. For this example, 1 at a 1 wt % loading in P, crosslinking starts at 160 C. in rheology (corroborated with melting at 175 C. from DSC, a less sensitive analysis).

[0239] The processing should preferably be conducted at least 30 C. below the temperature at which G starts to increase during temperature sweep experiment performed at a frequency of 1 rad/s and a heating rate of 10 C./min (FIG. 1B), preferentially at least 40 C. below the temperature at which G starts to increase during temperature sweep experiment performed at a frequency of 1 rad/s and a heating rate of 10 C./min, even more preferentially at least 60 C. below the temperature at which G starts to increase during temperature sweep experiment performed at a frequency of 1 Hz and a heating rate of 10 C./min.

[0240] The experiments aboveDSC, rheology, FTIRallow to define the processing temperature and the curing conditions (temperature and duration) for a given additive in a given polymer matrix. In the present example, additive 1 at a loading of 1 wt % in P, we have to process the two components below or at 100 C. We chose 100 C. for 10 minutes; and perform the curing step at a temperature T.sub.c equal to or higher than (T.sub.dis(i)+T.sub.dis(f))/2, which is 150 C. for this system. Accordingly, we chose 220 C. for 10 minutes.

Example 3: Process of the Invention with Additive of the Invention or with Comparative Additive

[0241] We implement the additive 1 and the polymer P disclosed in example 2.

[0242] We further use comparative additive 2 (counter example) of formula:

##STR00025##

[0243] According to the process of the present invention, the crosslinking agent 1 is mixed with polymer P at a loading of 1 wt %, at a temperature T.sub.mix of 100 C. and the mix is extruded at a screw speed of 100 rpm (rotation per minute). The torque required to keep the screw speed rotation constant remains constant (FIG. 2A; solid line). The torque required to rotate the screw is correlated to the viscosity of the melt.

[0244] In a counter example, the same experiment is carried out by using the additive 2 instead of 1at the same molar loading, temperature and screw speed. The torque quickly increases and reaches a plateau that is more than double than the torque measured in the extrusion performed with 1 (FIG. 2A; dashed line). This is a clear indication that the mixture P+2 starts crosslinking during the extrusion under these conditions, while no crosslinking happens during the extrusion of the mixture P+1.

[0245] Rheological analyses further show that the material processed with 2 is crosslinked after extrusion, (without the need for a curing step). Stress relaxation (FIG. 2B) shows how long it takes for a material to relax stress at a constant deformation, and gives indications on the viscosity/fluidity of a material (i.e. the higher the viscosity, the longer is the relaxation time). The functional polymer P extruded at 100 C. with 1 wt % of 1 completely relaxes stress after around 100 seconds (solid line), giving a zero-shear viscosity of .sub.0=120000 Pa.Math.s and a relaxation time of =104 s. When the material obtained by extrusion of P and 1 at 100 C. is cured by compression molding (10 minutes at 220 C.), it no longer completely relaxes stress within 10000 saround 5% residual stress after 10000 s, which is common for a boronic ester based vitrimers, and constitutes a direct evidence of the transformation of the material into a vitrimer (dashed line). The material extruded with 2, without any curing step, does not completely relax stress within 10000 s, displaying a residual stress of 14% after 10000 s (dotted line).

[0246] These two experiments show that the mixture polymer P+1 is not crosslinked after extrusion at 100 C., while the mixture polymer P+2 is already crosslinked after extrusion.

[0247] Significant stress relaxation of the cured material (Polymer P+1 wt % of 1 extruded and then compression molded; FIG. 2B, dashed line) at 100 C., combined with presence of a rubbery plateau in DMA (Dynamic Mechanical Analysis) (FIG. 3, black dotted line) is characteristic of a vitrimer.

[0248] To assess the recyclability of the vitrimer (cured material) obtained in that example, the vitrimer was tested mechanically (tensile testing) to rupture and then mechanically recycled. Mechanical recycling was performed by cutting and shredding the samples into small pieces and compression molding into the desired shape at 140 C. and 1 ton-equivalent for 20 minutes. The resulting recycled material was subsequently characterized by DMA (FIG. 3, grey dashed line) and tensile testing again and compared to the vitrimer (Table 1).

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Uniaxial tensile testing of the vitrimer obtained by extrusion and compression molding (10 minutes at 220 C., black dotted line) of polymer P with 1 wt % of 1 (P + 1 - Cured), and of the latter material after recycling (P + 1 - Recycled, grey dashed line). Strain at Break Stress at Break Young's Modulus Sample (%) (MPa) (MPa) P + 1 - Cured 793 66 0.82 0.05 1.2 0.1 P + 1 - Recycled 793 99 1.1 0.1 1.8 0.2