A Self-Healing Polymer with Fast Elastic Recovery upon Stretching

Abstract

The design of polymers that exhibit both good elasticity and self-healing properties is a highly challenging task. In spite of this, the literature reports highly stretchable self-healing polymers, but most of them exhibit slow elastic recovery behavior, i.e., they can only recover to their original length upon relaxation for a long time after stretching. Herein, a self-healing polymer with a fast elastic recovery property is demonstrated. We used 4-[tris(4-formylphenyl)methyl]benzaldehyde (TFPM) as a tetratopic linker to crosslink a poly(dimethylsiloxane) backbone, and obtained a self-healing polymer with high stretchability and fast elastic recovery upon stretching. The strain at break of the as-prepared polymer is observed at about 1400%. The polymer can immediately recover to its original length after being stretched. The damaged sample can be healed at room temperature with a healing efficiency up to 93% within 1 h. Such a polymer can be used for various applications, such as functioning as substrates or matrixes in soft actuators, electronic skins, biochips, and biosensors with prolonged lifetimes.

Robust and recoverable dual cross‐linking networks in pressure‐sensitive adhesives

“…The tan δ value of all the samples increased with increasing frequency, except in the case of PSA, owing to the introduction of PEEL into the PSA/DAM system. The tan δ value displayed more elastic behaviors at lower frequencies (long time scales) and more viscous behavior at higher frequencies (short time scales) 45–47 . Thus, PEEL in PSA/DAM‐PEEL dual cross‐linking networks not only increased the elastic modulus but also enhanced the chain mobility significantly; because PEEL can act as a physical cross‐linker and also improve chain mobility in these cross‐linking networks.…”

“…The tan δ value displayed more elastic behaviors at lower frequencies (long time scales) and more viscous behavior at higher frequencies (short time scales). [45][46][47] Thus, PEEL in PSA/DAM-PEEL dual cross-linking networks not only increased the elastic modulus but also enhanced the chain mobility significantly; because PEEL can act as a physical cross-linker and also improve chain mobility in these cross-linking networks. The interactions between PSA and DAM/PEEL in dual networks affect their properties depending on the extent of PEEL.…”

“…This result indicates that PSA/DAM-P3 has more elastic dominant characteristics despite the higher chain mobility than PSA owing to the addition of physical cross-linking resulting in improved recovery abilities. [45][46][47]…”

Preparation of conductive self-healing hydrogels via an interpenetrating polymer network method

“…6a, we compared the P1 and P6, the peak at 1670 cm À1 corresponding to the aldehyde group (C]O) and the peak at 1658 cm À1 corresponding to the imine group (C]N), respectively, indicating the Schiff base linkage formed that resulted from the condensation reaction between amine and aldehyde in P6. 41,42 The peaks in the range of 1200-1000 cm À1 could be identied as C-O, C-O-C and C-C bond. 43 The amide band around 1600 cm À1 , as well as the amine shown two absorption peaks about 3400 and 3200 cm À1 , which represent asymmetrical and symmetrical N-H stretching.…”

Self-Healing Mechanisms for 3D-Printed Polymeric Structures: From Lab to Reality

“…A study from Zhao et al found that with the use of 4-tris as a tetratopic linker to crosslink a poly(dimethylsiloxane) backbone,, one can obtain a self-healing polymer, with efficient outcomes upon stretching. It was also revealed that materials with strain at the break of material, such as polymers, recovered to their original length after being stretched [ 19 ]. The damaged material was also healed at room temperature—up to 93% within 1 h. Zhao et al suggested that polymers can be used in different applications, like electronic sinks, biochips, matrixes in soft actuators, and others.…”