Constructing self-healing high-strength elastomer with condensed state microphase separation by solubilization and copolymerization

Abstract

Self-healing is a fascinating property for materials, but it is still a challenge to simply, effectively and greenly prepare self-healing material. Here, a self-healing elastomer was fabricated by solubilization copolymerization of ethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate (MEA) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM). When NIPAM content was 40%, “strong condensed state” emerged and led to obvious microphase separation, which greatly improved stress to 3.5 MPa at break (≈650%). Meantime, because the condensed state was still weak in the copolymer, the dissociation and re-association could occur to improve self-healing performance. The copolymer had about 60% self-healing efficiency after 8h at 100 °C, and the actual stress was 2 MPa at break (≈500%). The copolymer with good solubility can be easily recycled and reprocessed. A wrinkled skin-core conductive filament also was prepared by wet spinning and stretching coating, which was conductive and stretchable. And the self-healing core can drive conductive PEDOT: PSS shell to re-touch after break. • The solubilization copolymerization preparation is more simple, effective and green. • Microphase separation structure are formed by polymerizing monomer with micellar distribution. • NIPAM condensed state can achieve dissociation and re-association to improved self-healing performance. • Copolymers have good mechanical properties, self-healing properties, recyclability and secondary processability.