Supramolecular polymers

Abstract

The high reversibility of the non-covalent bonds ensures that supramolecular polymers are always formed under conditions of thermodynamic equilibrium, and hence the lengths of the chains are directly related to the strength of the non-covalent bond, the concentration of the monomer and the temperature. [...] inks in ink-jet printers need to be runny when they're squirted out of the pen, but must become almost solid when they hit the paper.\n Impressively, the dynamic behaviour of the hydrogen bonds - necessary for the self-healing process - does not compromise the properties of the material.