Reprocessable and healable ethylene copolymer/f-rGO nanocomposites crosslinked by Diels-Alder adducts with infrared- and thermo-responsive behavior

In this work, multi-stimuli responsive nanocomposites with recyclability and rapid healability features were developed by simultaneous incorporation of thermo-reversible DA bonds and functionalized reduced graphene oxide (f-rGO) into ethylene copolymer (G-PE). Reversible formation-dissociation of DA crosslinks was investigated by FTIR, H-1 NMR, DSC, and solubility test. It was observed that mechanical properties of the matrix were noticeably improved (modulus ca. 220%, tensile strength ca. 308%, and elongation at break ca. 125%) with loading a quite low amount of f-rGO (0.05 wt%). Interestingly, the results revealed the re-workability of the developed materials with no significant differences in their mechanical properties as well as shape memory (SM) effect after two cycle of melt-reprocessing. Besides, nanocomposites showed scratch-healing and excellent shape recovery under direct heating as well as near infrared light (NIR).

Automated summary

In this study, multi-stimuli responsive nanocomposites with recyclability and rapid healability features were developed by incorporating thermo-reversible DA bonds and functionalized reduced graphene oxide (f-rGO) into ethylene copolymer (G-PE). The results showed significant improvement in mechanical properties of the matrix with loading a low amount of f-rGO, and the re-workability of the developed materials with no significant differences in their mechanical properties after melt-reprocessing. Scratch-healing and shape recovery were also observed under direct heating and near infrared light for the nanocomposites.