Solvent-assisted programming of flat polymer sheets into reconfigurable and self-healing 3D structures

• Published in: Nature communications 2018-05, Vol.9 (1), p.1906-7, Article 1906
• Main Authors: Yang, Yang, Terentjev, Eugene M., Wei, Yen, Ji, Yan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 639/301/923/1028; 639/638/455; Humanities and Social Sciences; multidisciplinary; Plastics; Polymers; Programming; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Self healing materials; Sheets; Solvents
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04257-x

It is extremely challenging, yet critically desirable to convert 2D plastic films into 3D structures without any assisting equipment. Taking the advantage of solvent-induced bond-exchange reaction and elastic-plastic transition, shape programming of flat vitrimer polymer sheets offers a new way to obtain 3D structures or topologies, which are hard for traditional molding to achieve. Here we show that such programming can be achieved with a pipette, a hair dryer, and a bottle of solvent. The polymer used here is very similar to the commercial epoxy, except that a small percentage of a specific catalyst is involved to facilitate the bond-exchange reaction. The programmed 3D structures can later be erased, reprogrammed, welded with others, and healed again and again, using the same solvent-assisted technique. The 3D structures can also be recycled by hot-pressing into new sheets, which can still be repeatedly programmed. It is desirable to programme 2D plastic films into 3D structures without any assisting equipment. Here the authors show this programming can be achieved with a pipette, a hair dryer, and a bottle of solvent by using a commercial epoxy with a small percentage of a specific catalyst to facilitate bond exchange.