Unlocking the potential of self-healing and recyclable ionic elastomers for soft robotics applications

In the field of soft robotics, current materials face challenges related to their load capacity, durability, and sustainability. Innovative solutions are required to address these problems beyond conventional strategies, which often lack long-term ecological viability. This study aims to overcome th...

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Published inMaterials horizons Vol. 11; no. 3; pp. 78 - 725
Main Authors Utrera-Barrios, S, Steenackers, N, Terryn, S, Ferrentino, P, Verdejo, R, Van Asche, G, López-Manchado, M. A, Brancart, J, Hernández Santana, M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Royal Society of Chemistry 06.02.2024
Subjects
Durability
Elastomers
Formability
Grippers
Maintenance costs
Mechanical properties
Nitrile rubber
Recyclability
Robotics
Self healing materials
Soft robotics
Sustainability
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Summary:In the field of soft robotics, current materials face challenges related to their load capacity, durability, and sustainability. Innovative solutions are required to address these problems beyond conventional strategies, which often lack long-term ecological viability. This study aims to overcome these limitations using mechanically robust, self-healing, and recyclable ionic elastomers based on carboxylated nitrile rubber (XNBR). The designed materials exhibited excellent mechanical properties, including tensile strengths (TS) exceeding 19 MPa and remarkable deformability, with maximum elongations (EB) over 650%. Moreover, these materials showed high self-healing capabilities, with 100% recovery efficiency of TS and EB at 110 °C after 3 to 5 h, and full recyclability, preserving their mechanical performance even after three recycling cycles. Furthermore, they were also moldable and readily scalable. Tendon-driven soft robotic grippers were successfully developed out of ionic elastomers, illustrating the potential of self-healing and recyclability in the field of soft robotics to reduce maintenance costs, increase material durability, and improve sustainability. Mechanically strong, self-healing and recyclable rubber-based ionic elastomers for soft robotics hand.
Bibliography:by DMA; (S7) evolution of the mechanical properties (M300, TS, and EB) and crosslink density of 10ZnO through three recycling cycles; (S8) video of the actuation. See DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/d3mh01312j
Materials Horizons has consistently stood as a key source for staying updated on the most recent breakthroughs in materials science. Our recognition as the Materials Horizons Outstanding Review 2020 was indeed a great honor. Within that review, we delineated the scientific evolution of self-healing materials gathered in four generations. In this new article, we take a step forward, showcasing the feasibility of crafting tendon-driven soft robotic grippers using recyclable and self-healing materials. We eagerly anticipate contributing further research articles and extend our best wishes to Materials Horizons for many more decades of success. Happy 10th anniversary!
and Loss moduli
E
Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: (S1) Product data for Krynac X 750 supplied by Arlanxeo; (S2) IR spectra of the ionic elastomers; (S3) DSC and TGA results; (S4) healing efficiency based on M300 values of the ionic elastomers; (S5) stress-strain curves of the ionic elastomers in pristine and healed state (healing protocol: 110 °C, 3 h, rectangular specimens); (S6) storage
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ISSN:2051-6347
2051-6355
DOI:10.1039/d3mh01312j