Ultra-robust,self-healable and recyclable polyurethane elastomer via a combination of hydrogen bonds,dynamic chemistry,and microphase separation

Flexibility, robustness, transparency, and recyclability are critical to the application of self-healing polymer materials in the field of flexible electronics. However, integrating all the above properties remains a huge challenge to date. In this work, we put forward a facile strategy to prepare polyurethane (PU) elastomer with ultra-high strength and self-healing performance based on hydrogen bonds, disulfide dynamic chemistry, and microphase separation at the same time. Three different self-healing PUs were obtained by introducing disulfide bonds and different types of hydrogen bonds. A robust, transparent, and recyclable PU with amino-terminated chain extender (PUA) with fast and efficient self-healing performance was prepared. The mechanical and self-healing properties of the PUA were effectively balanced by the synergistic effect of reversible interaction of disulfide bonds and the formation of microphase separated structure. The results indicated that the PUA exhibited high transparency up to 90% and excellent mechanical property, e.g. the tensile strength and elongation at break can reach 37.10 MPa and 1080%, respectively. Meanwhile, it can achieve a high self-healing efficiency of 96.8% at 80 °C for 4 h and maintain 84% of the initial mechanical strength even after four times of recycling. Moreover, the colloid graphite/PUA flexible strain sensor was prepared by the combination of colloid graphite and PUA, which can accurately detect both large and tiny scale deformations.     

Thermo-reversible MWCNTs/epoxy polymer for use in self-healing and recyclable epoxy adhesive

A self-healing and recyclable carbon tube/epoxy adhesive was prepared by epoxy monomer with Diels-Alder(DA) bonds, diethylenetriamine and polyethyleneimine modified multi-wall carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs). The self-healing and recyclable ability was attained by thermally reversible Diels-Alder reaction between furan and maleimide in the epoxy monomer. By controlling the molar ratio of furfuryl glycidyl ether and 4,4′-methylenebis(N-phenylmaleimide), the glass transition temperature and mechanical properties of MWCNTs/epoxy adhesives were varied. The self-healing properties of MWCNTs/epoxy polymers were evaluated by lap shear experiment and the results showed that the MWCNTs/epoxy adhesives exhibited enhanced mechanical properties and excellent self-healing ability under heat stimulus. The healing efficiency was related to the molecule mobility and the conversion of DA reaction between furan and maleimide. The MWCNTs/epoxy adhesives also displayed excellent recyclable ability by transforming into soluble polymer under heating. These materials offer a wide range of possibilities to produce materials with healing and recyclable ability and have the potential to bring great benefits to our daily lives by enhancing the safety, performance, and lifetime of products.     

Toughening a Self-Healable Supramolecular Polymer by Ionic Cluster-Enhanced Iron-Carboxylate Complexes

Supramolecular polymers that can heal themselves automatically usually exhibit weakness in mechanical toughness and stretchability. Here we exploit a toughening strategy for a dynamic dry supramolecular network by introducing ionic cluster-enhanced iron-carboxylate complexes. The resulting dry supramolecular network simultaneous exhibits tough mechanical strength, high stretchability, self-healing ability, and processability at room temperature. The excellent performance of these distinct supramolecular polymers is attributed to the hierarchical existence of four types of dynamic combinations in the high-density dry network, including dynamic covalent disulfide bonds, noncovalent H-bonds, iron-carboxylate complexes and ionic clustering interactions. The extremely facile preparation method of this self-healing polymer offers prospects for high-performance low-cost material among others for coatings and wearable devices.     

基于多重动态共价键的环氧类玻璃网络的制备与性能

以三羟甲基丙烷三缩水甘油醚(TTE)为基体, 2,2′-(1,4-亚苯基)-双[4-硫醇1,3,2-二氧杂戊烷](BDB)和3,3-二硫代二丙酸(DTDPA)为交联剂, 通过环氧-巯基“点击”反应和环氧-羧酸酯化反应, 制备了基于多重动态共价键(硼酸酯键、 二硫键和酯键)的环氧类玻璃网络. 利用红外光谱和拉曼光谱对其结构进行了表征, 结果表明, 环氧类玻璃中不仅存在硼酸酯键、 二硫键和酯键, 还存在可逆氢键, 并且大量氢键的存在能提高环氧类玻璃的交联度. 对所得环氧网络的热稳定性、 热机械性能和力学性能进行了测试, 并对基于多重动态共价键环氧网络进行了自修复、 焊接、 形状记忆和再加工能力测试. 结果表明, 在80 ℃下可实现网络的完全自修复、 再加工与焊接, 且焊接后样品的力学性能(拉伸强度)恢复率在80%以上, 具有优异的功能性.     

氨基硅油扩链改性水性聚氨酯的合成及性能研究

采用甲苯二异氰酸酯(TDI)、聚氧化丙烯二醇(PPG)、2,2-二羟甲基丙酸(DMPA)为原料,先制备成聚氨酯预聚体,再通过在乳化过程中以侧链氨基硅油(AEAPS)或直链氨基硅油(ATPS)扩链制得了一系列水性聚氨酯乳液,并对涂膜的红外光谱、耐水性、力学性能和表面疏水性等进行了研究。结果表明,通过氨基硅油改性的聚氨酯涂膜,在保持力学性能基本不变的情况下,其耐水性、表面疏水性等性能都有明显提高。其中,侧链氨基硅油(AEAPS)比直链氨基硅油(ATPS)具有更好的改性效果。     

氨基硅油扩链改性水性聚氨酯的研究

通过将由甲苯二异氰酸酯与聚四氢呋喃,二羟甲基丙酸反应制得的聚氨酯预聚体在低浓度氨基硅油的水乳液中扩链,合成了一种硅氧烷改性的聚氨酯水乳液,并用傅立叶红外光谱,ＥＳＣＡ能谱,接触角仪,电子拉力试验机,吸水率测定及乳液稳定性测试对其进行研究。     

Mechanically robust,ion-conductive,self-healing glassy hybrid materials via tailored Zn/imidazole interaction

Simultaneously achieving mechanical properties and rapid self-healing under ambient conditions is challenging because of slow diffusion dynamics. Here, we report the design of self-healing hybrids composed of low molecular mass multifunctional silsesquioxane nanoparticles with cross-linked networks formed from non-covalent metal–ligand interactions to address this challenge. Carefully tuning the bond dynamics and strength by changing the counterions and metal–ligand feed ratio enables rapid self-healing and robust mechanical properties (tensile strength = 14.9 MPa and elongation at break = 4.36%) with ion conductivity. Static tensile behavior and rheological response of hybrids revealed dynamic interactions. The hybrids without entanglement can heal from a physical cut at room temperature with a healing efficiency of approximately 90%. This molecular design strategy provides a versatile pathway for the production of self-healing hybrid materials with excellent mechanical properties.     

Role of parallel reformable bonds in the self-healing of cross-linked nanogel particles

We develop a hybrid computational approach to examine the mechanical properties and self-healing behavior of nanogel particles that are cross-linked by both stable and labile bonds. The individual nanogels are modeled via the lattice spring model (LSM), which is an effective method for probing the response of materials to mechanical deformation. The cross-links between the nanogels are simulated via the hierarchical Bell model (HBM), which allows us to capture the rupturing of multiple parallel bonds as the result of an applied force. Because the labile bonds are relatively reactive, they can reform after they have been ruptured. To incorporate the possibility of bonds reforming, we modify the HBM formalism and validate the modified HBM by considering a system of two surfaces, which are connected by multiple parallel bonds. We then use our hybrid HBM/LSM to simulate the behavior of the cross-linked nanogels under a tensile deformation. In these simulations, each labile linkage between the nanogels contains at most N parallel bonds. We vary the fraction of labile linkages and the value of N in these linkages to determine the optimal conditions for improving the robustness of the material. Although numerous parallel bonds within a linkage enhance the strength of the material, these bonds diminish the ductility and the ability of the material to undergo the structural rearrangements that are necessary for self-repair. For a relatively low fraction of labile bonds and N ≤ 4, however, we can significantly improve the strength of the material and preserve the self-healing properties. For instance, a sample with 30% labile linkages and N = 4 per linkage is roughly 200% stronger than a sample that is cross-linked solely by stable bonds and can still undergo self-repair in response to the tensile deformation. The results reveal how mechanical stress can lead not only to the appearance of cavities within the material but also to bond formation that "heals" these cavities and thus prevents the catastrophic failure of the material.     

Sustainable metal-free polyurethane elastomers from bile acids: self-healing properties and biocompatibility

Currently, self-healing polymers with superior elasticity have made great progress in healthcare devices and flexible electronics. Benefiting from rigid skeletons and hydroxyl groups of bile acids, herein sustainable self-healing polyurethanes have been developed via an alternative metal-free strategy in which bile acid units and oligo(ethylene glycol)s serve as hard and soft segments, respectively. The bile acid based polyurethane could achieve a similar mechanical performance (7.96 MPa of Young's modulus) to certain soft tissues and maximum self-healing efficiency of 90% in tensile strength for 3 h. Multiple hydrogen bonds originated from hydroxyl groups of bile acids and urethane bonds synergistically attribute to self-healing ability, which represents the first example that quadruple hydrogen bonds of sustainable molecules driven elastomers have been reported. Moreover, taking into account the desirable biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo, it is highly anticipated that these sustainable metal-free self-healing polyurethane elastomers would be explored for practical applications, such as soft tissue repairing.     

Dynameric Collagen Self-Healing Membranes with High Mechanical Strength for Effective Cell Growth Applications

The fabrication of biocompatible adaptive materials with high stiffness and self-healing properties for medical applications is a challenging endeavor. Collagen is a major extracellular matrix component acting as a substrate for cell adhesion and migration. Dynamers are constitutional polymers whose monomeric components are linked through reversible bonds, able to modify their constitution through reversible exchange of their components. In the current work, we demonstrate that the rational combination of collagen and dynameric networks connected with reversible covalent imine bonds is a very important and previously unreported strategy to provide biocompatible membranes with self-healing ability and excellent mechanical strength. The key challenge in the construction of such membranes is the required adaptive interaction between collagen chains and the dynamic cross-linkers, preventing the formation of defects. For example, by varying structure and molecular lengths of the dynamers, the tensile strength of the dynameric membranes reach over 80 MPa, more than 400 % higher than that observed for the reference collagen membrane, and the highest value for break strain found, was 19 %. The self-healing properties were observed when reconnecting two membrane pieces or even from crushed status of the membranes. Moreover, both MTT assay and confocal laser scanning microscopy method demonstrated the good biocompatibility of the collagen membranes, leaving more than 90 % viability for NIH 3T3 cells after 24 h co-culture.     

A Robust Self-healing Polyurethane Elastomer Enabled by Tuning the Molecular Mobility and Phase Morphology through Disulfide Bonds

Elastomers with outstanding strength, toughness and healing efficiency are highly promising for many emerging fields. However, it is still a challenge to integrate all these beneficial features in one elastomer. Herein, an asymmetric alicyclic structure adjacent to aromatic disulfide was tactfully introduced into the backbone of polyurethane(PU) elastomer. Specifically, such elastomer(PU-HPS) was fabricated by polycondensing polytetramethylene ether glycol(PTMEG), isophorone diisocyanate(IPDI) and p-hydroxydiphenyl disulfide(HPS) via one-pot method. The molecular mobility and phase morphology of PU-HPS can be tuned by adjusting the HPS content. Consequently, the dynamic exchange of hydrogen and disulfide bonds in the hard segment domains can also be tailored. The optimized sample manifests outstanding tensile strength(46.4 MPa), high toughness(109.1 MJ/m3), high self-healing efficiency after fracture(90.3%), complete scratch recovery(100%)and good puncture resistance. Therefore, this work provides a facile strategy for developing robust self-healing polymers.     

Multi-bond network hydrogels with robust mechanical and self-healable properties

Multi-bond network(MBN) which contains a single network with hierarchical cross-links is a suggested way to fabricate robust hydrogels. In order to reveal the roles of different cross-links with hierarchical bond energy in the MBN, here we fabricate poly(acrylic acid) physical hydrogels with dual bond network composed of ionic cross-links between carboxylFe3+ interactions and hydrogen bonds, and compare these dually cross-linked hydrogels with singly and ternarily cross-linked hydrogels. Simple models are employed to predict the tensile property, and the results confirm that the multi-bond network with hierarchical distribution in the bond energy of cross-links endows hydrogel with effective energy-dissipating mechanism. Moreover, the dually cross-linked MBN gels exhibit excellent mechanical properties(tensile strength up to 500 k Pa, elongation at break ~ 2400%) and complete self-healing after being kept at 50 °C for 48 h. The factors on promoting self-healing are deeply explored and the dynamic multi-bonds are regarded to trigger the self-healing along with the mutual diffusion of long polymer chains and ferric ions.     

基于金属配位键的自修复、可重塑聚丁二烯橡胶的合成及性能

橡胶材料通常因经过硫化及补强等工艺处理而呈现出热固性,因而难以被回收处理,容易造成严重的资源浪费和环境污染.本文通过在聚丁二烯上修饰羧酸基团,再加入锌离子(Zn2+)与羧酸配位,制备了基于金属配位键交联的自修复橡胶(PB-COOH/Zn2+).该橡胶具有良好的机械性能和优秀的自修复及重塑性能,在70℃下修复3 h,其韧性可以恢复到初始强度,修复效率可达100%. PB-COOH/Zn2+较高的聚合物链段运动能力及配位键交联网络良好的动态性不仅赋予其优异的修复性能,还使得其在较温和的条件下可以进行多次重塑,在70℃及5 MPa的条件下重塑3次仍能保持原有的机械性能.此外,通过在PB-COOH/Zn2+中掺杂适量的碳纳米管,不仅增强了其机械性能,还使其具备了电致修复及传感能力,扩宽了PB-COOH/Zn2+作为环境友好型材料的应用前景.     

Bioinspired dual dynamic network hydrogels promote cartilage regeneration through regulating BMSC chondrogenic differentiation

How to improve the therapeutic efficacy of cell delivery during mechanical injection has been a great challenge for tissue engineering. Here, we present a facile strategy based on dynamic chemistry to prepare injectable hydrogels for efficient stem cell delivery using hyaluronic acid (HA) and poly(γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA). The combination of the guest–host (GH) complexation and dynamic hydrazone bonds enable the HA/γ-PGA hydrogels with physical and chemical dual dynamic network and endow hydrogels a stable structure, rapid self-healing ability, and injectability. The mechanical properties, self-healing ability, and adaptability can be programmed by changing the ratio of GH network to hydrazine bond cross-linked network. Benefitting from the dynamic cross-linking networks, mild preparation process, and cytocompatibility of HA/γ-PGA hydrogels, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) show high cell viability in this system following mechanical injection. Moreover, HA/γ-PGA hydrogels can promote BMSC proliferation and upregulate the expression of cartilage-critical genes. Notably, in a rabbit auricular cartilage defect model, BMSC-laden HA/γ-PGA hydrogels can effectively promote cartilage regeneration. Together, we propose a general strategy to develop injectable self-healing HA/γ-PGA hydrogels for effective stem cell delivery in cartilage tissue engineering.     

Super-tough and rapidly self-recoverable multi-bond network hydrogels facilitated by 2-ureido-4[1H]-pyrimidone dimers

Multi-bond network(MBN) hydrogels contain hierarchical dynamic bonds with different bond association energy as energy dissipation units,enabling super-tough mechanical properties.In this work,we copolymerize a protonated 2-ureido-4[1 H]-pyrimidone(UPy)-contained monomer with acrylic acid in HCl solution.After removing excess HCl,UPy motifs are deprotonated and from dimers,thus generating an UPy-contained MBN hydrogel.The obtained MBN hydrogels(75 wt% watercontent) exhibit super-tough mechanical properties(0.39 MPa to 2.51 MPa tensile strength),with tremendous amount of energy(1.68 MJ/m³ to 11.1 MJ/m³) dissipated by the dissociation of UPy dimers.The introduction of ionic bonds can further improve the mechanical properties.Moreover,owing to their dynamic nature,both UPy dimers and ionic bonds can re-associate after being dissociated,resulting in excellent self-recovery ability(around 90% recovery efficiency within only 1 h).The excellent self-recovery ability mainly originates from the re-association of UPy dimers based on the high dimerization constant of UPy motifs.     

水性聚氨酯胶粘剂结构与性能的研究

以聚醚烽异氟尔酮二异氰酸酯为主要原料,以二羟甲基酸为亲水单体制备了一组不同配方组成的聚氨酯乳胶粘剂。通过粘度测定、粒度分析、力度性能的测试以及DSC分析,研究了新水剂含量、软链段的类型和加料方法对乳液及其胶膜性能的影响。结果表明：二羟甲基丙酸含量在3％－8％之间可获得比较稳定的乳液,并且两步法较一步法制得的乳液分散性好,但胶膜力学性能方面,一步法较好。     

软段对水性聚氨酯结构与性能的影响

以低聚物多元醇、异氟尔酮二异氰酸酯(IPDI)、亲水单体二羟甲基丙酸(DMPA),乙二胺为主要原料,制备了一组不同组成的聚氨酯乳液。通过粘度测定、粒度分析、力学性能和耐水性能测试、原子力显微镜(AFM)分析,研究了软段类型、软段分子量对乳液及其胶膜性能的影响。结果表明,分子结构规整、易结晶的软段合成的聚氨酯树脂力学性能和耐水性能都较好,对聚己二酸酯而言,分子量减小,其合成的水性聚氨酯拉伸强度提高,耐水性能却有很大程度的下降。     

Flexible Self-healing Cross-linked Polyamides Synthesized Through Bulk Michael Addition,Polycondensation, and Diels-Alder Reaction

Three new thermally responsive self-healing cross-linked polyamides(cPA-FU-DAs) with good tensile strength and toughness were synthesized through bulk Michael addition, polycondensation, and Diels-Alder reaction. Unlike common stable polymers, cPA-FU-DAs can seal cracks by mere heating. First, the Michael addition of methyl acrylate and furfurylamine was conducted, and a furfurylamine-diester(FU-DE) was prepared. FU-DE was transformed into polyamide prepolymers that contained furfuryl pendant groups(PA-FUs) through bulk polycondensation with a poly(propylene glycol)(PPG) diamine and a PPG triamine. PA-FUs were crosslinked by bismaleimide, and cPA-FU-DAs were prepared. The Michael addition was monitored by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy. The reverse DA reaction of the cPA-FU-DAs was demonstrated by differential scanning calorimetry and dissolution property. Their thermally self-healing properties were verified by polarizing optical microscopy and tensile test. The cPA-FU-DAs exhibited good mechanical properties and high self-healing efficiency. They self-healed at 130℃. The tensile strength after repairing was up to 19 MPa with self-healing efficiency reaching 92%.     

Enhanced self-healing driving force in polymer materials by regulating molecular structure

For self-healing polymers, obtaining excellent healing ability and mechanical properties usually need complex chemical structure, external healing conditions, and high manufacturing difficulty. Therefore, self-healing efficiency and rate, mechanical strength, and simple structure design as well as no additional healing conditions of the material are contradictory properties and are difficult to optimize simultaneously. Herein, self-healable thermoplastic poly (urethane urea) elastomers driven by surface energy were fabricated by the introduction of asymmetric alicyclic structures and the healing properties in polymers were optimized by regulating surface energy. The results showed that with the increasing of isophorone diamine contents, the surface energy driving force increased from 36 kPa to 149 kPa, the healing time decreased from 30d to 5d, and healing efficiency, and tensile strength reached 100.9% and 4.04 MPa at room temperature. At the same time, polymers also obtained a high healing efficiency under high-temperature healing conditions. The healing mechanism is that asymmetric alicyclic structures with steric hindrance and ring flip promote the dissociation of hydrogen bonds, provide sufficient chain mobility, decrease the junction density, and improve the surface energy as well as the dissociation and reconstruction of hydrogen bonds. Energetic polymer composites using thermoplastic poly (urethane urea) elastomers as matrix obtained excellent healing properties. This study will offer a novel healing approach for developing advanced self-healing polymer materials.     

单体结构对基于离子作用的自修复光固化材料性能的影响

本文研究了单体结构及其比例对基于离子作用的自修复光固化材料光聚合行为、力学性能,以及自修复性能的影响。结果表明：改变软硬单体种类及其比例不会改变自修复光固化体系的光聚合行为。增加软单体含量和降低硬单体含量,材料的拉伸应变和修复效率随之增加,断裂应力随之降低。硬单体中刚性环会增加聚合物链间的内摩擦力,使材料断裂应力增加,软单体中柔性醚链则降低链间范德华力,增强链移动性,提高材料的拉伸应变和修复效率。软单体为丙烯酸正丁酯（BA）及硬单体为丙烯酸异冰片酯（IBOA）的样品IB7-BA3展现出较好的综合性能,断裂应力为1.42 MPa,拉伸应变为295%,修复效率高于90%。