AUTHOR=Kampes Robin , Meurer Josefine , Hniopek Julian , Bernt Carolin , Zechel Stefan , Schmitt Michael , Popp Jürgen , Hager Martin D. , Schubert Ulrich S. 

TITLE=Exploring the principles of self-healing polymers based on halogen bond interactions

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Soft Matter

VOLUME=2

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/soft-matter/articles/10.3389/frsfm.2022.973821

DOI=10.3389/frsfm.2022.973821

ISSN=2813-0499

ABSTRACT=<p>In this study, novel self-healing polymers based on halogen bonds as reversible supramolecular crosslinking moieties are presented. The reversible crosslinking is facilitated by a polymer-bound bidentate halogen bond donor entity in combination with small molecule acceptor suberic acid. The binding strength of the crosslinking can be tuned <italic>via</italic> deprotonation of the diacid crosslinker. The material characteristics are investigated with several methods such as NMR and Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry as well as rheology. The tactile profile measurements have been utilized to monitor the scratch healing ability of the polymer networks revealing excellent healing efficiencies up to 99% within 2 h at a temperature of 100°C. Thus, the self-healing ability of halogen bond polymers could be quantified for the first time.</p>