High Toughness Polyurethane toward Artificial Muscles, Tuned by Mixing Dynamic Hard Domains

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c01098
• Publication Date: 2021-08-26T20:19:56Z
• Authors: Qiqi Qu; Jing He; Yunsheng Da; Menghan Zhu; Yanyan Liu; Xiaoxiao Li; Xingyou Tian; Hua Wang
• Keywords: Polycaprolactone; Thermoplastic polyurethane

Developing multiphase polyurethanes (PUs) with loosely packed domains containing dynamic linkages and appropriately crystallized soft phases composed of polycaprolactone diol (PCL) segments is effective for the trade-off between toughness self-healing. Here, we proposed a new strategy based on mixed hard to achieve goal improve self-healing behavior mechanical performance. The designed comprise microphase-separated structure as segments, which are facilitated store entropy energy under strain. aromatic disulfides together aliphatic chain extenders were selected adjust hierarchical structures, including microphase separation crystallinity. reversible hydrogen bonds disulfide distributed in polymer network contribute enhancing stretchability In this research, robust uniform structures insufficient crystallinity by mixing domain, exhibits potential application field flexible conductors synthetic muscles; recovery efficiency at 90 °C 93.8% ultimate stress/strain 18.7 ± 0.2 MPa/2253 149.2%. This work confirmed that feasibility PUs changing mole ratio dual simply, also expected inspire related fields engineering, may require polymers excellent extraordinary robustness simultaneously.