Infrared induced repeatable self-healing and removability of mechanically enhanced graphene-epoxy flexible materials

• Published in: RSC advances Vol. 9; no. 25; pp. 1424 - 1432
• Main Authors: Guo, Yakun, Zou, Dongli, Zhu, Wanqiu, Yang, Xiaojiao, Zhao, Pengxiang, Chen, Changan, Shuai, Maobing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Royal Society of Chemistry 07.05.2019; The Royal Society of Chemistry
• Subjects: Chain mobility; Chemistry; Elongation; Graphene; Infrared radiation; Modulus of elasticity; Polymer matrix composites; Self healing materials
• ISSN: 2046-2069; 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/c9ra00261h

A repeatable self-healing epoxy composite mechanically enhanced by graphene nanosheets (GNS) was prepared from an epoxy monomer with Diels-Alder (DA) bonds, octanediol glycidyl ether (OGE) and polyether amine (D230). The GNS/epoxy composites, with a maximum tensile modulus of 14.52 ± 0.45 MPa and elongation at break more than 100%, could be healed several times under Infrared (IR) light with the healing efficiency as high as 90% through the molecule chain mobility and the rebonding of reversible DA bonds between furan and maleimide. Also, they displayed excellent recyclable ability by transforming into a soluble polymer, which offers a wide range of possibilities to produce epoxy flexible materials with healing and removable abilities. The GNS/epoxy composites, with tensile modulus of 14.52 ± 0.45 MPa and elongation at break more than 100%, could be healed several times under infrared light with the healing efficiency as high as 90% and displayed excellent recyclable ability.