Metallo Supramolecular Polymer Conetworks for Self-Healing Coatings

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current self-healing materials lack a combination of robust mechanical properties and permanent damage repair, with existing coatings often being non-transparent, prone to delamination, or lacking long-term stability when exposed to water or organic solvents.

Innovation Solution

Development of metallo supramolecular polymer conetworks (MSMC) with poly(r(alkyl)-N-(pyridin-s-yl)(meth)-acrylamide) moieties complexed to transition metal cations linked by poly(dimethylsiloxane) derivatives, which are covalently attached to substrates, providing enhanced mechanical properties and reversible self-healing capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If self-healing materials use reversible supramolecular interactions, then self-healing capability is improved, but mechanical strength deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveself-healing capabilityVSAvoidmechanical strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines reversible supramolecular metal-ligand interactions with irreversible covalent bonds in a dual-network structure. The covalent network provides mechanical strength while the supramolecular network enables self-healing, resolving the contradiction between strength and repairability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite material system with two distinct networks: one based on covalent bonding for structural integrity and another based on metal-ligand coordination for dynamic self-healing functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Illumination intensity

If transparent polymer coatings are made, then optical transparency is improved, but durability and resistance to delamination deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical transparencyVSAvoiddurability and resistance to delamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a thin film coating architecture that maintains optical transparency while incorporating crosslinked networks for enhanced durability and adhesion resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The coating uses a composite structure combining transparent polymer matrices with metal-ligand complex networks, achieving both optical clarity and mechanical robustness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If polymer coatings are covalently attached to substrates, then resistance to delamination is improved, but self-healing capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresistance to delaminationVSAvoidself-healing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the coating into two functional networks: a covalently attached framework for adhesion and a supramolecular component for self-healing, allowing both functions to coexist

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coating incorporates dynamic reversible metal-ligand bonds that can break and reform, enabling self-healing while the covalent attachment to substrate maintains overall adhesion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

MSMC coatings exhibit improved mechanical strength, transparency, and self-healing properties, maintaining functionality and preventing bacterial adhesion, with the ability to repair scratches and maintain optical transparency even after damage.

Implementation Method 1

metal-ligand bonds represent an attractive motif because of the possibility to tune the interaction strength by simply choosing the appropriate metal ion and ligand

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMetal-ligand coordination: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

The covalently interconnected hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymer chains result in phase-separated morphologies

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase separation:

Implementation Method 3

Amphiphilic polymer conetworks (APCNs) are nanostructured materials with a unique portfolio of properties, including swellability in water and in organic solvents

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSwelling:

Data Source

PatentEP4065616B1Polymer conetworks of poly(pyridine-(METH)-acrylamide) derivatives-crosslinked by transition metal ions- and linked by polydimethylsiloxane derivatives

Publication Date: 2023.08.23 LUXEMBOURG INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (LIST)

AI summary

The invention relates to metallo supramolecular polymer conetworks (MSMC) of of poly[r(alkyl)a-N-(pyridin-s-yl) (meth)-acrylamide moiety]m,n derivatives-complexed to a transition metal cation-linked by poly(dimethylsiloxane)palkyl-(meth)-acrylate moiety derivatives, wherein a is 0 or 1 or 2, p is an integer selected from the group consisting of from 50 to 70 and of from 120 to 180, r is integer of from 0 to 4, and s is an integer of from 2 to 4, and m and n, independently, are integers of from 5 to 11. These MSMC can be used as film or coating on a substrate and are exhibiting self-healing and bacterial anti-adhesion properties.