A self-healing polymer network based on reversible covalent bonding

A self-healing polymer network for potential coating applications was designed based on the concept of the reversible Diels–Alder (DA) reaction between a furan functionalized compound and a bismaleimide. The network allows local mobility in a temperature window from ca. 80 °C to 120 °C by shifting the DA equilibrium towards the initial building blocks. Changing the spacer length in the furan functionalized compound leads to tailor-made properties. Elastomeric model systems were chosen to evaluate the kinetic parameters by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. For the DA reaction a pre-exponential factor ln(ADA in kg mol−1 s−1) equal to 13.1 ± 0.8 and an activation energy (EDA) of 55.7 ± 2.3 kJ mol−1 are found. For the retro-DA reaction, ln(ArDA) and ErDA are 25.8 ± 1.8 s−1 and 94.2 ± 4.8 kJ mol−1, respectively. The enthalpy and entropy of reaction are calculated as −38.6 kJ mol−1 and −105.3 J mol−1 K−1. The kinetic results are validated by micro-calorimetry. Non-isothermal dynamic rheometry provides the gel-point temperature of the reversible network. The sealing capacity is evaluated by atomic force microscopy for micro-meter sized defects. Repeatability of the non-autonomous healing is checked by micro-calorimetry, ruling out side-reactions below 120 °C.