A tough and self-fusing elastomer tape

Abstract Pressure-sensitive and adhesive tapes have been widely used for many purposes. However, their intrinsically strong sticky nature and weak strength severely limits their applications to vulnerable surfaces and harsh conditions. Herein, a multifunctional tough and self-fusing elastomer tape is fabricated for the first time by simple copolymerization of a model hydrophobic monomer 2-methoxyethyl acrylate (MEA) and a model weak acid-containing monomer acrylic acid (AAc). The PMEA-PAAc copolymer elastomers demonstrate high strengths and toughness with a maximum Young’s modulus, tensile stress, breaking strain, toughness, and recovery stress up to 74.19 MPa, 10.77 MPa, 2260%, 48.95 MJ/m3, and 0.60 MPa, respectively, due to hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. Furthermore, these reversible physical interactions contribute to the room temperature self-fusing ability of the elastomer. Studies on rheological behavior, dynamic mechanical properties and time–temperature equivalence reveal that topological entanglement and hydrogen bonds collectively contribute to the toughness and self-fusing capability. Intriguingly, the weak acidity of PAAc imparts antibacterial activity to the elastomer. Importantly, this elastomer can seal liquid (water and oil) leakage and stop bleeding, which is independent of the adherend surface properties, outperforming the conventional surface-dependent pressure sensitive adhesive and adhesive tape, due to elastic retraction force and self-fusing capability.