Revolutionizing Elastomer Technology: Advances in Reversible Crosslinking, Reprocessing, and Self-Healing Applications

Abstract

Due to resource scarcity, it is critical to reprocess and reuse elastomers as their mechanical properties and safety are compromised. To address this issue, innovative solutions, such as dynamic chemical crosslinking are required. This approach, rooted in reversible crosslinking, uses dynamic reversible reactions like Diels-Alder reaction, bisulfide bonding, imine bonding, ester exchange reaction, hydrogen bonding, ionic bonding, and coordination bonding. By enabling elastomers to autonomously repair damage, these mechanisms extend their usable life and contribute to a circular economy. The current discourse in material science focuses on the underlying mechanisms and practical applications of self-repairing elastomers. This highlights their immense potential in mitigating environmental impacts. Nevertheless, challenges remain, notably in enhancing self-healing efficiency, ensuring scalability, and improving economic viability. These challenges are addressed by a focused research agenda, demanding the development of new materials with heightened self-healing properties, the refinement of cost-effective and scalable production methods, and the broadening of application domains for these materials. Adopting this comprehensive strategy is deemed crucial for moving toward sustainable materials management and significantly reducing our ecological footprint, in alignment with worldwide efforts toward environmental preservation and resource efficiency.