A novel type of self-healing silicone elastomers
Researchers report an innovative cross-linked network of silicone elastomer with good stretchability, thermal stability and autonomous self-healing.
The scientists expect this type of silicone elastomers could be applied into the soft robotics. Image source: 849356 - Pixabay (symbol image).
-This type of elastomers was easily prepared by aminopropyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane (A-PDMS), thioctic acid (TA) and 2,6-pyridine dialdehyde (Py).
According to the information available to the scientists, TA was firstly incorporated into the reversible network of silicones to supply the dynamic disulfide bonds and endow the self-healing properties. Py was also introduced into the network which acted as the metal-ligand binding sites.
Soft robotics and wearable electronics
Consequently, silicone elastomers with three different types of chemical interactions including the disulfide bonds, hydrogen bonds and metal-ligand bonds were obtained. Especially, they possessed good anticorrosion and strong adhesion affinity. The scientists expect this type of silicone elastomers could be applied into the soft robotics, wearable electronics and stretchable circuit constructed.
The study has been published in Progress in Organic Coatings, Volume 144, July 2020.
Image source: Pixabay.
