A review on self-healing polymers for soft robotics

Terryn, Seppe; Langenbach, Jakob; Roels, Ellen; Brancart, Joost; Bakkali-Hassani, Camille; Poutrel, Quentin-Arthur; Georgopoulou, Antonia; Thuruthel, Thomas George; Safaei, Ali; Ferrentino, Pasquale; Sebastian, Tutu; Norvez, Sophie; Iida, Fumiya; Bosman, Anton W.; Tournilhac, François; Clemens, Frank; Assche, Guy Van; Vanderborght, Bram

doi:10.1016/j.mattod.2021.01.009

Cited by 173 publications

(200 citation statements)

References 262 publications

(274 reference statements)

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“…The advantage of hydrogen bonding interactions is that they can be reformed very quickly, often leading to the autonomous healing of damage, without the need for an external trigger to activate the healing action. A review article on self-healing materials was published by Terryn et al in 2021, and shows the relevance of the self-healing materials for soft robotic applications [20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supramolecular Self-Healing Sensor Fiber Composites for Damage Detection in Piezoresistive Electronic Skin for Soft Robots

et al. 2021

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Self-healing materials can prolong the lifetime of structures and products by enabling the repairing of damage. However, detecting the damage and the progress of the healing process remains an important issue. In this study, self-healing, piezoresistive strain sensor fibers (ShSFs) are used for detecting strain deformation and damage in a self-healing elastomeric matrix. The ShSFs were embedded in the self-healing matrix for the development of self-healing sensor fiber composites (ShSFC) with elongation at break values of up to 100%. A quadruple hydrogen-bonded supramolecular elastomer was used as a matrix material. The ShSFCs exhibited a reproducible and monotonic response. The ShSFCs were investigated for use as sensorized electronic skin on 3D-printed soft robotic modules, such as bending actuators. Depending on the bending actuator module, the electronic skin was loaded under either compression (pneumatic-based module) or tension (tendon-based module). In both configurations, the ShSFs could be successfully used as deformation sensors, and in addition, detect the presence of damage based on the sensor signal drift. The sensor under tension showed better recovery of the signal after healing, and smaller signal relaxation. Even with the complete severing of the fiber, the piezoresistive properties returned after the healing, but in that case, thermal heat treatment was required. With their resilient response and self-healing properties, the supramolecular fiber composites can be used for the next generation of soft robotic modules.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supramolecular Self-Healing Sensor Fiber Composites for Damage Detection in Piezoresistive Electronic Skin for Soft Robots

et al. 2021

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“…[ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ] Self‐healing mechanisms relying on encapsulated or microvascular networks containing healing agents may find a specific limited use for mechanically robust soft systems but their use more generally poses apparent challenges. [ 3 , 14 , 15 ] A more promising strategy has been to use polymeric systems healing on an energy input trigger or autonomously without intervention. [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ] Some of the most effective strategies have been based on supramolecular interactions, or more recently, even on shape memory effects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

All‐Around Universal and Photoelastic Self‐Healing Elastomer with High Toughness and Resilience

et al. 2021

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Ultimately soft electronics seek affordable and high mechanical performance universal self‐healing materials that can autonomously heal in harsh environments within short times scales. As of now, such features are not found in a single material. Herein, interpenetrated elastomer network with bimodal chain length distribution showing rapid autonomous healing in universal conditions (<7200 s) with high efficiency (up to 97.6 ± 4.8%) is reported. The bimodal elastomer displays strain‐induced photoelastic effect and reinforcement which is responsible for its remarkable mechanical robustness (≈5.5 MPa stress at break and toughness ≈30 MJ m−3). The entropy‐driven elasticity allows an unprecedented shape recovery efficiency (100%) even after fracturing and 100% resiliency up to its stretching limit (≈2000% strain). The elastomers can be mechanically conditioned leading to a state where they recover their shape extremely quickly after removal of stress (nearly order of magnitude faster than pristine elastomers). As a proof of concept, universal self‐healing mechanochromic strain sensor is developed capable of operating in various environmental conditions and of changing its photonic band gap under mechanical stress.

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“…Reversible polymer networks (RPN) constructed by DA reactions consist of covalently reversible chemical crosslinks that can be broken upon an external stimulus, mainly heat or radiation energy, and consequently damage can be healed via a heat-cool cycle below the degelation transition, while reshaping and reprocessing is feasible above degelation transition. These reversible networks have been proven to be valuable in robotics applications [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ] by increasing the life-time of components through healing of macroscopic damages and as protective coatings [ 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Multiple synthesis design parameters allow tuning the mechanical and processing properties of Diels–Alder networks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influence of the Furan and Maleimide Stoichiometry on the Thermoreversible Diels–Alder Network Polymerization

et al. 2021

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In recent work, the thermoreversible Diels–Alder reaction between furan and maleimide functional groups has been studied extensively in the context of self-healing elastomers and thermosets. To elaborate the influence of the stoichiometric ratio between the maleimide and furan reactive groups on the thermomechanical properties and viscoelastic behavior of formed reversible covalent polymer networks, a series of Diels–Alder-based networks with different stoichiometric ratios was synthesized. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and dynamic rheology measurements were performed on the reversible polymer networks, to relate the reversible network structure to the material properties and reactivity. Such knowledge allows the design and optimization of the thermomechanical behavior of the reversible networks for intended applications. Lowering the maleimide-to-furan ratio creates a deficit of maleimide functional groups, resulting in a decrease in the crosslink density of the system, and a consequent decrease in the glass transition temperature, Young’s modulus, and gel transition temperature. The excess of unreacted furan in the system results in faster reaction and healing kinetics and a shift of the reaction equilibrium.

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A review on self-healing polymers for soft robotics

Cited by 173 publications

References 262 publications

Supramolecular Self-Healing Sensor Fiber Composites for Damage Detection in Piezoresistive Electronic Skin for Soft Robots

Supramolecular Self-Healing Sensor Fiber Composites for Damage Detection in Piezoresistive Electronic Skin for Soft Robots

All‐Around Universal and Photoelastic Self‐Healing Elastomer with High Toughness and Resilience

The Influence of the Furan and Maleimide Stoichiometry on the Thermoreversible Diels–Alder Network Polymerization

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