Self-Healing Elastomer Composition for Underwater Hydrolytic Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-healing materials for soft electronics are prone to hydrolysis and mechanical deterioration in underwater conditions, lacking sufficient hydrolytic and mechanical stability, and often require external triggers for efficient healing.
Innovation Solution
A self-healing thermoplastic elastomer composed of polyurethane and aromatic disulfide moieties with a polybutadiene backbone, dynamically crosslinked by aromatic disulfide metathesis, which prevents water diffusion and maintains mechanical integrity and healing efficiency in harsh humidity and underwater conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If self-healing materials use boronic acid derivatives or catechol groups for underwater self-healing, then self-healing ability is improved, but hydrolytic stability or pH stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical bonding mechanism from hydrolytically unstable boronic esters or pH-sensitive catechol bonds to hydrolytically stable disulfide bonds and hydrophobic interactions. This parameter change in bond type resolves the contradiction by providing both underwater self-healing capability and long-term hydrolytic stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system combining disulfide-crosslinked polymeric chains with hydrophobic segments. This composite structure provides both the dynamic bonding for self-healing and the hydrophobicity for water resistance, resolving the contradiction between self-healing ability and hydrolytic stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If non-crosslinked polymers are used for soft electronics, then flexibility is improved, but mechanical stability and water resistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic disulfide bonds that can reversibly break and reform, creating a dynamically crosslinked network. This dynamic crosslinking provides mechanical stability while maintaining flexibility, as the bonds can adapt to deformation and self-heal, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and mechanical stability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If polyurethanes with carbamate linkages are used for waterproof applications, then water resistance is improved, but hydrolytic stability deteriorates due to hydrolysis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition from hydrolytically vulnerable carbamate linkages to hydrolytically stable disulfide bonds and hydrophobic polymeric segments. This parameter change eliminates the hydrolysis problem while maintaining water resistance through the hydrophobic character of the material.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If polyester-based polyurethanes are used to increase water resistivity, then water resistance is improved, but mechanical performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite material system combining disulfide-crosslinked polymeric chains with hydrophobic segments, achieving both water resistance and high mechanical performance (tensile strength >1.5 MPa, elongation >200%). This composite approach resolves the contradiction by providing both protective and mechanical functions.
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
The elastomer exhibits exceptional hydrolytic stability and self-healing efficiency of over 80% in harsh humidity and underwater conditions without external triggers, with high tensile strength and elongation, suitable for soft electronics applications.
Implementation Method 1
the polymer having H-bonding interactions and being able to undergo catalyst free aromatic disulfide metathesis at room-temperature
Implementation Method 2
a transparent elastomer that reportedly can self-heal via hydrophobic C—F bonds under water at different acidity levels
Implementation Method 3
the polymer having H-bonding interactions and being able to undergo catalyst free aromatic disulfide metathesis
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a solution-processable self-healing hydrolytically stable elastomer, a method for the preparation thereof, and articles of manufacture comprising the elastomer. The elastomer comprises polymeric chains comprising units of formula (A1), wherein R is a polybutadiene-containing polyurethane; R1 and R1′ are independently selected from the group consisting of: —H, (C1-C20)alkyl, (C5-C14)aryl, —OR4, —(CO)R5, —O(CO)R6, —(SO)R7, CO—R8, —COOR9, —NO2, and halogen; R2, R2′, R3 and R3′ are independently selected from the group consisting of: —H, (C1-C20)alkyl, and (C5-C14)aryl; R4 to R9 are the same or different, and are independently selected from the group consisting of: —H, (C1-C20)alkyl, and (C5-C14)aryl; m is 4; wherein the elastomer is dynamically crosslinked by aromatic disulfide metathesis, and wherein the elastomer has a water contact angle of above 100 #.