Thermally Switchable Electrically Conductive Thermoset rGO/PK Self-Healing Composites

Among smart materials, self-healing is one of the most studied properties. A self-healing polymer can repair the cracks that occurred in the structure of the material. Polyketones, which are high-performance thermoplastic polymers, are a suitable material for a self-healing mechanism: a furanic pendant moiety can be introduced into the backbone and used as a diene for a temperature reversible Diels-Alder reaction with bismaleimide. The Diels-Alder adduct is formed at around 50 degrees C and broken at about 120 degrees C, giving an intrinsic, stimuli-responsive self-healing material triggered by temperature variations. Also, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is added to the polymer matrix (1.6-7 wt%), giving a reversible OFF-ON electrically conductive polymer network. Remarkably, the electrical conductivity is activated when reaching temperatures higher than 100 degrees C, thus suggesting applications as electronic switches based on self-healing soft devices.

Automated summary

This material demonstrates a reversible temperature-triggered self-healing mechanism using furanic pendant moiety and bismaleimide with Diels-Alder reaction, along with a reversible electrically conductive polymer network achieved by adding reduced graphene oxide. Additionally, the electrical conductivity is activated at temperatures higher than 100 degrees C, showing potential applications as electronic switches in self-healing soft devices.