Degradable, self-healing, humidity-driven poly(urethane-urea) film

• Published in: Polymer (Guilford) 2024-08, Vol.308, p.127358, Article 127358
• Main Authors: Yu, Kai, Zhang, Yujie, OuYang, Hao, Ahmad, Hafiz Adnan, Ren, Zhi-Hui, Guan, Zheng-Hui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Degradable; High mechanical properties; Humidity drive; Self-healing
• ISSN: 0032-3861
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2024.127358

Humidity-driven materials are widely used in actuators, soft robots, sensors, and other fields. The extensive use of these materials increases the demand for degradable, highly durable, and self-healing materials. However, the preparation of such ideal materials still faces serious challenges. Herein, a novel poly(urethane-urea) film material (PUU-DHA-Cu4) with synergetic quadruple dynamic bonds (acylhydrazone bonds, boron-oxygen bonds, coordination bonds, and hydrogen bonds) is developed. The prepared PUU-DHA-Cu4 film material exhibited a tensile strength of 23.2 MPa, an elongation at break of 1142 %, and a healing efficiency of 90.1 % after 48 h of self-healing at room temperature. Meanwhile, the reversibility of the boron-oxygen bond imparts degradability to the material. Finally, a humidity-driven poly(urethane-urea) material that not only has self-healing ability but can also be degraded easily was successfully developed. This work will make a valuable addition to the field of environment-friendly humidity-driven materials. Humidity-driven materials with self-healing and degradable capabilities are essential to extend their lifespan and protect the environment. However, it is still extremely challenging to combine both functions simultaneously along with high mechanical properties in a single material. Here, a new humidity-driven poly (polyurethane-urea) film material (PUU-DHA-Cu4) with room-temperature self-healing and degradable functions was successfully prepared. The PUU-DHA-Cu4 film material not only has excellent self-healing properties (heals for 48 h at room temperature and recovers 90.1 % of its original tensile strength) and high tensile strength (25.7 MPa), it is also degradable (degrades in 4 h under mild conditions). This work will make a valuable addition to the field of environment-friendly humidity-responsive materials. [Display omitted] •Humidity-driven poly(urethane-urea) film with room temperature self-healing ability.•The PUU-DHA-Cu4 film exhibits excellent self-healing properties and high tensile strength.•The PUU-DHA-Cu4 film can be degraded under mild conditions.