Wide-temperature-range and anti-aging self-healing polyurethane enabled by dual cooperative cross-linking strategy

Abstract

The development of skin-compatible polyurethane materials with excellent wide-temperature range and anti-aging self-healing properties is considered crucial for modern applications. However, few polyurethane materials can achieve these characteristics simultaneously because of the chemical bond activity. Here, we report a wide-temperature range and antiaging self-healing polyurethane material with superior mechanical features. At –40 °C, the polyurethane exhibits a selfhealing efficiency of 72.6%, with a tensile strength of ~7.4 MPa and elongation at break of ~1424.5%. At 60 °C, its selfhealing efficiency reached 93.6%, with an elongation at break of 1922.2% without significant reduction of the tensile strength. Notably, its low-temperature self-healing efficiency was 79.3 and 72.6%, respectively, at –20 and–40 °C, and the samples showed some degree of self-healing, even at –60 and –80°C. Meanwhile, the polyurethane showed excellent anti-aging performance, and its self-healing properties were sufficiently high after aging at 60 °C for 7 days. The designed polyurethane is expected to offer a promising platform for fabricating materials for electronic skin applications, wearable electronic devices, flexible displays, and soft robotics.

Keywords

• smart polymers
• biocompatible polymers
• mechanical properties
• self-healing
• anti-aging