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Self-healing polymers

Nature Reviews Materials volume 5, pages 562–583 (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

Self-healing is the capability of a material to recover from physical damage. Both physical and chemical approaches have been used to construct self-healing polymers. These include diffusion and flow, shape-memory effects, heterogeneous self-healing systems, covalent-bond reformation and reshuffling, dynamics of supramolecular chemistry or combinations thereof. In this Review, we discuss the similarities and differences between approaches to achieve self-healing in synthetic polymers, where possible placing this discussion in the context of biological systems. In particular, we highlight the role of thermal transitions, network heterogeneities, localized chemical reactions enabling the reconstruction of damage and physical reshuffling. We also discuss energetic and length-scale considerations, as well as scientific and technological challenges and opportunities.

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Fig. 1: Self-healing mechanisms.
Fig. 2: Self-healing through van der Waals forces or the shape-memory effect.
Fig. 3: Reformation of covalent bonds.
Fig. 4: Reversible reactions enabling reformation of covalent bonds.
Fig. 5: The dynamic reformation of covalent bonds.
Fig. 6: Examples of hydrogen bonding in self-healing polymers.
Fig. 7: Self-healing using metal–ligand coordination chemistry.
Fig. 8: Host–guest chemistry in self-healing systems.
Fig. 9: Examples of ionic interactions applied in self-healing.
Fig. 10: Vitrimer systems.
Fig. 11: Energy considerations of self-healing.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation under awards DMR 1744306 and partial OIA-1655740. The J.E. Sirrine Foundation Endowment at Clemson University is also acknowledged for partial support of this work.

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Wang, S., Urban, M.W. Self-healing polymers. Nat Rev Mater 5, 562–583 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-020-0202-4

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