In recent years supramolecular chemistry has established as one of the most active fields of science. The most significant feature of supramolecular chemistry is the use of building blocks which reversibly held together by intermolecular forces, electrostatic or H-bonding. Therefore, the synthesis of supramolecular systems using different non-covalent assemblies provides some unique architectures and features which are extremely difficult to be obtained via covalent synthesis. One main application of such influencing supramolecular systems is the preparation of self-healing materials. Among various approaches to self-healing effects, reversible bond formation has become prominent in the last years. To achieve both acceptable mechanical performance and self-healing behaviour from a polymeric material, proper balance between covalent and non-covalent bonding is important. The covalent bonding gives a basic strength to the material while the non-covalent bonding generates self-healing effects in the case of damage. The main aim of this study was to synthesize an organic moiety which is capable of forming supramolecular assemblies in the presence of suitable counterparts, followed by its incorporation on to polymer matrix and investigation of the final properties. For reversible bond forming technique H-bonding is exploited in this work. 4-substituted-2,6-diaminopyridine is selected as the organic moiety as it has a clear DAD (donor-acceptor-donor) structure and thus able to undergo self-association or triple hydrogen bonded complex formation with respective counterparts. Chichibabin reaction was utilised for the synthesis and 4-hydroxy-2,6-diamido pyridine was synthesised as the key compound. Initially different derivatives of 4-hydroxy-2,6 diamino pyridine was synthesized and utilised towards the formation of supramolecular network with a suitable monomeric counterpart. Poly (butadiene-co-maleic anhydride) is used as the base polymer as it has the possibility to introduce non-covalent bonding sites through grafting reactions on the double bonds or on maleic anhydride groups. The free amine group present in the main compound was grafted onto the backbone of poly (butadiene-co-maleic anhydride) via reaction of amine with maleic anhydride group. The main design of supramolecular self-assembly within poly (butadiene-co-maleic anhydride) with a suitable counterpart poly (butadiene-co-maleimide), is prepared and used in this thesis. The miscibility of the two polymers is proven by the presence of a single Tg in the DSC results of the mixture and also by the formation of homogeneous films with no phase separation in AFM. However the formation of hydrogen bonding within the monomer was proven by 1H NMR, IR studies. Further formation of complex between two polymers was established from the results of viscosity. Also the interactions between the complexes exert a distinct influence on the rheological behavior of the blend. Lastly the reversibility of this supramolecular blend was assured by temperature dependent viscosity values. In the final part of this work, bromobutyl rubber (BIIR) is selected as the model elastomer which has vast application in the tire industry; as the inner-liner that holds the air in the tire and also used as rubber stoppers for sealing medicine vials and bottles The bromine functionality can be substituted with an amine group making it more susceptible towards the incorporation of different organic moieties. In this way, the derivative of 2,6-diaminopyridine having a pendant amine group is incorporated in BIIR. As a counterpart uracil is used as its H-bond forming ability with diaminopyridine moieties is well established and supported by different previous research works. The supramolecular network formed between these two monomers help to generate self-healing effects within BIIR rubber. Fig. 2 represents the supramolecular network formed between chains of BIIR. The self-healing effect of the rubber material is examined through the stress-strain experiments where up to 82% healing was observed when heated up to 70 °C. With increasing temperature better healing was observed whereas at room temperature a 40% healing tendency was noticed. It is also interesting to note that the thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of this tailor made self-healing BIIR is identical with sulphur cured conventional BIIR.

In recent years supramolecular chemistry has established as one of the most active fields of science. The most significant feature of supramolecular chemistry is the use of building blocks which reversibly held together by intermolecular forces, electrostatic or H-bonding. Therefore, the synthesis of supramolecular systems using different non-covalent assemblies provides some unique architectures and features which are extremely difficult to be obtained via covalent synthesis. One main application of such influencing supramolecular systems is the preparation of self-healing materials. Among various approaches to self-healing effects, reversible bond formation has become prominent in the last years. To achieve both acceptable mechanical performance and self-healing behaviour from a polymeric material, proper balance between covalent and non-covalent bonding is important. The covalent bonding gives a basic strength to the material while the non-covalent bonding generates self-healing effects in the case of damage. The main aim of this study was to synthesize an organic moiety which is capable of forming supramolecular assemblies in the presence of suitable counterparts, followed by its incorporation on to polymer matrix and investigation of the final properties. For reversible bond forming technique H-bonding is exploited in this work. 4-substituted-2,6-diaminopyridine is selected as the organic moiety as it has a clear DAD (donor-acceptor-donor) structure and thus able to undergo self-association or triple hydrogen bonded complex formation with respective counterparts. Chichibabin reaction was utilised for the synthesis and 4-hydroxy-2,6-diamido pyridine was synthesised as the key compound. Initially different derivatives of 4-hydroxy-2,6 diamino pyridine was synthesized and utilised towards the formation of supramolecular network with a suitable monomeric counterpart. Poly (butadiene-co-maleic anhydride) is used as the base polymer as it has the possibility to introduce non-covalent bonding sites through grafting reactions on the double bonds or on maleic anhydride groups. The free amine group present in the main compound was grafted onto the backbone of poly (butadiene-co-maleic anhydride) via reaction of amine with maleic anhydride group. The main design of supramolecular self-assembly within poly (butadiene-co-maleic anhydride) with a suitable counterpart poly (butadiene-co-maleimide), is prepared and used in this thesis. The miscibility of the two polymers is proven by the presence of a single Tg in the DSC results of the mixture and also by the formation of homogeneous films with no phase separation in AFM. However the formation of hydrogen bonding within the monomer was proven by 1H NMR, IR studies. Further formation of complex between two polymers was established from the results of viscosity. Also the interactions between the complexes exert a distinct influence on the rheological behavior of the blend. Lastly the reversibility of this supramolecular blend was assured by temperature dependent viscosity values. In the final part of this work, bromobutyl rubber (BIIR) is selected as the model elastomer which has vast application in the tire industry; as the inner-liner that holds the air in the tire and also used as rubber stoppers for sealing medicine vials and bottles The bromine functionality can be substituted with an amine group making it more susceptible towards the incorporation of different organic moieties. In this way, the derivative of 2,6-diaminopyridine having a pendant amine group is incorporated in BIIR. As a counterpart uracil is used as its H-bond forming ability with diaminopyridine moieties is well established and supported by different previous research works. The supramolecular network formed between these two monomers help to generate self-healing effects within BIIR rubber. Fig. 2 represents the supramolecular network formed between chains of BIIR. The self-healing effect of the rubber material is examined through the stress-strain experiments where up to 82% healing was observed when heated up to 70 °C. With increasing temperature better healing was observed whereas at room temperature a 40% healing tendency was noticed. It is also interesting to note that the thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of this tailor made self-healing BIIR is identical with sulphur cured conventional BIIR.