A transparent, highly stretchable, self-healing polyurethane based on disulfide bonds. (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chang, Kun; Jia, Han; Gu, Shu-Ying
• Is Part Of: European polymer journal. Volume 112(2019)
• Page Start: 822
• Page End: 831
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: Stimuli-responsive polymers -- Polyurethane -- Self-healing -- Dynamic disulfide bonds -- Healing efficiency; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; Polymerization; Polymers; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2018.11.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-3057

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: A transparent self-healing polyurethane based on disulfide bonds is reported. The polyurethane has excellent self-healing properties and healing repeatability. Shape memory effect acted as an auxiliary recover force for the closure of scratches. The dynamic disulfide bonds triggered chain exchange and healed the scratches. Abstract: Polymers with self-healing ability have attracted great research efforts recently. A transparent self-healing polyurethane (PU) based on disulfide bonds is reported in this work. The crystalline structures, self-healing properties of the polyurethane were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction measurements (XRD), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), stress relaxation and tensile tests. The as-prepared self-healing polyurethane was transparent due to low crystallinity and exhibited excellent self-healing properties, stretchability and healing repeatability. The healing efficiency and elongation at break at a moderate healing temperature were over 90% and 800%, respectively. Meanwhile, the self-healing polyurethane exhibited an excellent healing repeatability and service reliablility. The self-healing mechanism was analyzed through surface analysis of the scratches and shape memory effect. The system was composed of a polyurethane network, which was responsible for the autonomous crack closure due to its shape memory characteristic, and an intrinsic self-healing component through dynamic disulfide bond exchange. The self-healing polyurethane might have potential applications in the fields of flexible electronics, including artificial skins, soft robotics, etc.