A High Stretchable and Self–Healing Silicone Rubber with Double Reversible Bonds

Abstract

It is a challenge to synthesize silicone rubber with high stretchability and rapid self-healing ability without external stimuli. This article reports on a new class of self-healing poly (dimethylsiloxane)(PDMS) elastomer fabricated by introducing double reversible bonds (imine and hydrogen bonds) into silicone chains. Through reasonable structural design, the silicone rubber with high-efficiency self-healing ability was produced. The as-prepared PDMS elastomer films exhibited high stretchability (> 4000%), good transparency (> 80%) and fast self-healing efficiency (3 h at room temperature a healing efficiency of 93%). It could also be healed at low temperature (-20°C) and processed cyclically. In addition, we combined carbon nanotube films with this elastomer to prepare a flexible and stretchable capacitive sensor through a simple process.

Evolution of self-healing elastomers, from extrinsic to combined intrinsic mechanisms: a review

“…The imine bond has also been used repeatedly for the development of dual elastomeric networks with hydrogen bonds, mainly in PDMS. Yan et al 203 developed a network with high elongation and healing efficiency, 93% at room temperature, capable of being repaired at low temperatures, such as À20 1C. This study is one of the few cases that considered freezing temperatures in self-healing.…”

Highly stretchable silicone rubber nanocomposites incorporated with oleic acid‐modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles

“…Among the variety of silicone rubber matrix composites, the Fe 3 O 4 @OA/SR nanocomposite in this study possesses low elastic modulus, high elongation at break, and large tensile stress. Although a high stretchability of 4000% was obtained in the PDMS‐IP 0.6 ‐TPA 0.4 composite, the result was measured at a tensile rate of 20 mm min −1 , while the elongation at break was only 1400% at a tensile rate of 50 mm min ‐1 32 . This is mainly due to that measurement at a slow tensile rate allows more time for displacement, reorientation and recombination of the polymer chain segments, and reconstitution of weak hydrogen and imine bonds.…”

Flexible Self‐Repairing Materials for Wearable Sensing Applications: Elastomers and Hydrogels

“…[96] 3) By compounding self-healing elastomer with conductive film, the sensor with sandwich structure has stable sensing performance without destroying the repairability of the elastomer. [104] Yan et al obtained a self-healing elastomer substrate by bulk copolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide and 2-Methoxyethyl acrylate. Highly stretchable room temperature self-healing conductors were prepared by directly pasting reduced graphene oxide (rGO) films on elastic pre-stretching copolymer substrates, and strain sensors based on composite films were used to monitor tensile deformation and human motion as shown in Figure 6.…”

“…[ 96 ] 3) By compounding self‐healing elastomer with conductive film, the sensor with sandwich structure has stable sensing performance without destroying the repairability of the elastomer. [ 104 ] Yan et al. obtained a self‐healing elastomer substrate by bulk copolymerization of N ‐isopropylacrylamide and 2‐Methoxyethyl acrylate.…”