A Self-Healing Poly(Dimethyl Siloxane) Elastomer

• Published in: Advanced functional materials Vol. 17; no. 14; pp. 2399 - 2404
• Main Authors: Keller, M. W., White, S. R., Sottos, N. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 24-09-2007; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: Crosslinking; Elastomers; Encapsulation; Polymers; Self-healing materials
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.200700086

Self‐healing functionality is imparted to a poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) elastomer. This new material is produced by the incorporation of a microencapsulated PDMS resin and a microencapsulated crosslinker into the PDMS matrix. A protocol based on the recovery of tear strength is introduced to assess the healing efficiency for these compliant polymers. While most PDMS elastomers possess some ability to re‐mend through surface cohesion, the mechanism is generally insufficient to produce significant recovery of initial material strength under ambient conditions. Self‐healing PDMS specimens, however, routinely recover between 70–100 % of the original tear strength. Moreover, the addition of microcapsules increases the tear strength of the PDMS. The effect of microcapsule concentration on healing efficiency is also investigated.
A self‐healing poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) elastomer has been developed by the incorporation of a microencapsulated PDMS resin and a microencapsulated crosslinker into the PDMS matrix. Tear testing shows that this material is capable of routinely recovering over 70% of the original tear strength and is capable of producing healing efficiencies of 100%.