A Novel Self-Healing Polyurethane Based on Disulfide Bonds

Polymeric materials with intrinsic self-healing ability that can restore from mechanical injury autonomously have attracted great research efforts recently. Disulfide bonds, which become dynamic upon exposure to heat, UV light, or redox conditions, can be used to introduce healable properties to polymer network. Shape memory effect is a kind of auxiliary recovery force that can accelerate healing process. In this work, a polyurethane material combines disulfide link and shape memory effect is synthesized. Autonomous healing of a crack takes place upon heating above 80 degrees C and leads to almost fully recovery of mechanical properties. This healing is achieved by activating shape memory effect and disulfide exchange reaction simultaneously.