A Highly Stretchable Self‐Healing Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Elastomer with Reprocessability and Degradability

• Published in: Macromolecular rapid communications. Vol. 39; no. 8; pp. e1700686 - n/a
• Main Authors: Lv, Chi, Zhao, Kaifeng, Zheng, Junping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.04.2018
• Subjects: Degradability; Dimethylpolysiloxanes - chemistry; Elastomers; Elastomers - chemistry; External stimuli; high stretchability; Performance degradation; poly(dimethylsiloxane) elastomers; Polydimethylsiloxane; reprocessability; self‐healing materials; Stretchability; Temperature; poly(dimethylsiloxane) elastomers; reprocessability; degradability; high stretchability; self-healing materials
• ISSN: 1022-1336; 1521-3927
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.201700686

It is a challenge to synthesize materials that possess the properties of high stretchability and self‐healability. Herein a new poly(dimethylsiloxane) elastomer with high stretchability, room‐temperature self‐healability, repeatable reprocessability, and controlled degradability is reported by incorporating an aromatic disulfide bond and imine bond. The as‐prepared elastomer can be stretched to over 2200% of its original length. Without external stimuli, a damaged sheet can completely heal in 4 h. In addition, the elastomer can be reprocessed multiple times without obvious performance degradation and degraded controllably by three ways. All these properties of the elastomer can be ascribed to the unique dual‐dynamic‐covalent sacrificial system. Poly(dimethylsiloxane) elastomer with high stretchability (≈2200%) and superb self‐healability at room temperature is prepared by introducing an aromatic disulfide bond and imine bond at the same time, showing multiple reprocessability and controlled degradability. As a proof of concept, the elastomer is used as the reusable adhesive, which can withstand a load of 5 kg.