Self-healing high temperature shape memory polymer

Abstract

Self-healing can improve reliability and extend service lifetime of materials while shape memory polymers (SMPs) have potential in many smart applications, and here self-healing shape memory polyimide (SHSMPI) that can heal damages at high temperature is fabricated for the first time. SHSMPI is synthesized by incorporating fusible thermoplastic polystyrene (PS) at 8% weight content into shape memory polyimide (SMPI) matrix, and it exhibits excellent shape memory effect. SHSMPI can self-heal crack, pierced hole, and cut effectively at heal-temperature of 243 °C. Self-healing mechanism of SHSMPI is discussed, and SMPI matrix produces spatial proximity through shape memory effect while PS acts as healing agent to heal the damages. SHSMPI can produce stored energy of 0.105 J g−1 at the efficiency of 33.1% upon triggering. The designing of SHSMPI at macroscale makes it suitable for mass production, and the self-healing performance will greatly expand application areas of SMPI.