Minireview on Self-Healing Polymers: Versatility, Application, and Prospects

Abstract

Nature is blessed with self-healing properties. Mimicking nature is a traditional practice to innovate new classes of materials for researchers. In this practice, researchers made a revolutionary approach to innovate self-healing polymer (SHP) that can be used to treat damage-related losses. Different SHPs with various properties have been developed for a wide range of applications. SHPs unlocked the key to the taste of real life through their application and versatility in the sectors close to our day-by-day life of this age and the near future. In this study, we reviewed the scopes and prospects of the application of SHPs owing to different properties. Varieties of amazing properties made SHPs fit in different sectors such as construction, paint and coat, electronics, healthcare, textile, and automotive and aerospace. Similarly, due to having suitable functionality, SHPs can also be used in different industries. Therefore, it is high time to generalize the production of SHPs by suitable research and make sure the easy application for the welfare of human civilization and other living creatures.

Self‐Healing, High‐Strength, and Antimicrobial Polysiloxane Based on Amino Acid Hydrogen Bond

“…[4,5] So self-healing materials have been DOI: 10.1002/marc.202200657 widely applying in wearable electronics, [6] electrode film, [7] 3D printing, [8] electrostatic actuators, [9] and soft robotics. [10] Most silicone resins and rubbers are thermosets that compromise the possibility of repurposing or recycling. The thermoset polymer material cannot be dissolved or recycled many times to reshape the application, but selfhealing silicone materials [11,12] can fulfill both objectives above.…”

Post-polymerization functionalization of aliphatic polycarbonates using click chemistry

“…151 carbonates having alkene substituents for thiol-ene click chemistry, thus many clinical 149 Finally, synthetically developed materials that mimics nature's ability self-healing, i.e., having the built-in ability to automatically repair themselves without human intervention are of much interest, and indeed need attention with respect to greener processes from researchers. 150 In this regard, thiol-ene click chemistry has been instrumental in providing a self-healing polymeric material based on hydrogen bonding. 151 That is, the employment of three different reaction strategies involving propylene oxide hydrolysis to afford a CTA, followed by sequential copolymerization of PO/CO 2 and AGE/ CO 2 to provide a diblock polymer in a one-pot process with the unsaturated block undergoing thiol-ene addition of 2-(acetylamino)ethanethiol.…”

Recent Progress in the Field of Intrinsic Self-Healing Elastomers

“…(6) Specifically, it is beneficial to establish mechanisms by mimicking organisms found in plants and human skin when designing self-healing elastomers. (7) Exploring multiple combinations in search of further positive effects. (8) Using fillers or other additives as carriers for additional repair mechanisms may also be a promising option.…”

“…Self-healing elastomers, which have self-healing properties, can address these problems by fully or partially restoring in situ mechanical damages, thereby extending their service life and improving safety during use [2,3]. Consequently, self-healing elastomers have attracted tremendous attention over the past two decades as they can effectively alleviate environmental pollution, prolong the lifetime of products, and reduce costs [4][5][6][7].…”