Recyclable Self-Healing Polymer Materials With Enhanced Mechanical Properties

Self-healing polymers have garnered significant attention owing to their long service lives and high safety in harsh environments. Given the increasing need for environmentally sustainable materials with broader application avenues, the fabrication of self-healing materials exhibiting highly favorable mechanical properties and recyclability has gained considerable significance in recent years. However, such materials still remain limited in existence. Therefore, in this study, we fabricate recyclable self-healing polymer material by incorporating rigid polycarbonate segments featuring various molecular weights and hierarchical H─bonding interactions. As the results, the polycarbonate segments improve the mechanical properties of the polymers, and the hierarchical H─bonds imparts effective self-healing capabilities and further reinforces the mechanical performance. Specifically, the as-synthesized polymers achieve a tensile strength exceeding 68 MPa and demonstrate a self-healing efficiency of 70% after being subjected to a 70°C environment for 24 h. The results also indicate that high-value polycarbonate diol (PCDL) monomers can be effectively recycled from polymers using deep eutectic solvents. Ultimately, the combination of high performance, chemical and physical recyclability, and self-healing properties positions the fabricated polymers as a promising candidate for sustainable engineering applications.