The Self-Healing Potential of Triazole-Pyridine-Based Metallopolymers

• Published in: Macromolecular rapid communications. 2015-04, Vol.36 (7), p.604-609
• Main Authors: Sandmann, Benedict, Happ, Bobby, Kupfer, Stephan, Schacher, Felix H., Hager, Martin D., Schubert, Ulrich S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Backbone; Cobalt - chemistry; Crosslinking; Gain; Iron - chemistry; Ligands; metallopolymers; Microscopy; Mussels; Organometallic Compounds - chemical synthesis; Organometallic Compounds - chemistry; Polymers; Polymers - chemical synthesis; Polymers - chemistry; Pyridines - chemistry; SAXS; Self healing materials; self-healing; triazole-pyridine; Triazoles - chemistry; UV-vis spectroscopy; X-ray scattering
• ISSN: 1022-1336; 1521-3927
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.201400468

The development of artificial self‐healing materials represents an emerging and challenging field in material science. Inspired by nature—for instance by the self‐healing of mussel byssus threads—metallopolymers gain more and more attention as attractive self‐healing materials. These compounds are able to combine the properties of both polymers and metal–ligand interactions. A novel metallopolymer is developed consisting of attached bidentate triazole‐pyridine (TRZ‐py) ligands and a low glass transition temperature (T g) lauryl methacrylate backbone. The polymer is cross‐linked with different Fe(II) and Co(II) salts. The resulting materials exhibit promising self‐healing performance within time intervals of 5.5 to 26.5 h at moderate temperatures of 50 to 100 °C. The materials are characterized by X‐ray scattering (SAXS), UV–Vis spectroscopy, and light microscopy. Metallopolymers can be used to construct self‐healing materials. A bidentate triazole‐pyridine (TRZ‐py) ligand is attached to a lauryl methacrylate backbone. By cross‐linking the resulting polymer with different Fe(II) and Co(II) salts, a material with promising self‐healing performance can be obtained.