Integration of chemistry and physics into newly engineered adoptive materials require developments of controllable molecular level events that exhibit self-regulating functions, and should operate in an unprecedented, autonomous manner. To achieve these attributes, polymer networks were designed to contain localized structural and morphological variations, thus enabling favorable spatial and energetic conditions for responses induced by external or internal stimuli. These generalized concepts formulated the principles for the development of a new generation of stimuli-responsive polymers that exhibit self-repairing characteristics. This presentation will focus on the development of self-healing polymers that upon mechanical damage and subsequent light exposure are capable of self-healing. Precisely designed polyurethane networks modified with 4-(oxetane) and 5-(oxolane) member rings chitosan macromonomers revealed that self-healing can be controlled using free radical process initiated by the exposure to UV light. Changing protic conditions inside damaged area allows us controlling self-healing kinetics, which under certain conditions can be even reversed. Reversible color changes induced by mechanical damage and self-healing will be also presented in the context of enthalpic and entropic requirements.

From stimuli-responsive polymers and self-healing networks

245th National Meeting (2013)

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