Issue 18, 2013

Healable supramolecular polymers

Abstract

This mini-review details the recent development of self-healing and mendable polymeric materials which take advantage of the reversible characteristics of non-covalent interactions during their physical recovery process. Supramolecular polymer systems which undergo spontaneous (autonomous) healing, as well as those which require external stimuli to initiate the healing process (healable/mendable), are introduced and discussed. Supramolecular polymers offer key advantages over alternative approaches, as these materials can typically withstand multiple healing cycles without substantial loss of performance, as a consequence of the highly directional and fully reversible non-covalent interactions present within the polymer matrix.

Graphical abstract: Healable supramolecular polymers

Article information

Article type
Minireview
Submitted
18 Jan 2013
Accepted
05 Feb 2013
First published
06 Feb 2013

Polym. Chem., 2013,4, 4860-4870

Healable supramolecular polymers

L. R. Hart, J. L. Harries, B. W. Greenland, H. M. Colquhoun and W. Hayes, Polym. Chem., 2013, 4, 4860 DOI: 10.1039/C3PY00081H

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