Self-healing and polymer welding of soft and stiff epoxy thermosets via silanolates

Abstract Incorporating dynamic bonds into polymers enables static thermosets to be transformed active materials, possessing the reprocessability of thermoplastics while maintaining bulk properties fully crosslinked networks. This new class termed covalent adaptable networks (CANs), has helped bridge gap between traditional and thermoplastics. Here, epoxy-based were synthesized by combining a diepoxide monomer with an oligosiloxane prepolymer containing aminopropyl groups, which crosslink irreversibly, silanolate end-groups, participate in bonding. Two separate crosslinkers used give range soft stiff materials Young’s modulus varying from 12 MPa 2.2 GPa. study documents how thermal mechanical (e.g., glass transition temperature modulus) are affected compositional changes these Dynamic bonding also results self-healing properties, offering ability repair structural composites. When combined tunable capabilities make well-suited sustainable alternatives for many thermosets. For example, we demonstrated weld epoxy thermoset dissimilar material, feature epoxies do not permit. Graphical abstract