Continuous needs for new materials with adaptive and self-regulating functions make polymers particularly attractive if they are capable of operating in an unprecedented, autonomous manner. To achieve these functions, orchestrated micro, nano or Angstrom scale regions within polymer networks must exhibit responsiveness to a given stimulus. These studies focus on thermodynamic principles governing the development of a new generation of self-healing polymer networks. Contributions of segmental chain flexibility and reactivity of cleaved bonds or 'slipped' macromolecular segments to enthalpic and entropic components of the Gibbs free energy synchronized with chemical reactions responsible for repairs will lead to laminar and turbulent flows in a damaged area. As a result of flow and reformation of chemical linkages, autonomous self-repairs occur. We developed a polyurethane network composed of crosslinked sugar molecules enabling autonomous repairs in the presence of air under ambient temperature conditions. Its self-repairing behavior is a result of a series of highly synchronized responses driven by surrounding gas molecules that either stabilize or react with cleaved bonds, triggering both chemical bonds reformation localized inside the damage and remodeling damaged area.  Under ambient atmospheric conditions enabling the diffusion of a catalyst into the damage, reformation of chemical linkages occurs.

Self-healing polymer networks under ambient conditions: Thermodynamics and stimuli-responsiveness

248th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.