Self-healing polymers based on reversible covalent bonds

Abstract

Starting with reversible polymer networks based on the Diels-Alder reaction of furan and maleimide, a large variety of different self-healing polymers based on reversible covalent interactions have been developed in the last decade. These intrinsic self-healing polymers are mainly based on reversible addition reactions, exchange reactions, and condensations. The most prominent examples of such materials are based on Diels-Alder chemistry, photocycloadditions, disulfide reactions, acylhydrazones, and reversible radical reactions.