Exploring the Potential of Recyclable PDMS-Based Polymers for Self-Healing, Flexible Sensor Applications
Abstract
Self-healing polymers have gained much attention in recent years for applications that range from coatings on aircraft to medical devices. The nanomaterials lab at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University has created a novel polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based material that can intrinsically heal at room temperature. The mechanism that allows for intrinsic self-healing is attributed to urea moieties, a functional group that exhibits both strong and weak hydrogen bonding. The reported self-healing material allows for small holes and rips to be repaired in approximately 24 hours. This material also demonstrated excellent stretchability allowing for a high elastic limit, where the material can return to its original length, as well as begin able to extend over 1200% before failure. Utilizing the flexible characteristics of this material a graphene-based flexible stretch sensor was produced. This presentation will demonstrate the self-heling characteristics as well as the mechanisms of the sensor application.
Exploring the Potential of Recyclable PDMS-Based Polymers for Self-Healing, Flexible Sensor Applications
Self-healing polymers have gained much attention in recent years for applications that range from coatings on aircraft to medical devices. The nanomaterials lab at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University has created a novel polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based material that can intrinsically heal at room temperature. The mechanism that allows for intrinsic self-healing is attributed to urea moieties, a functional group that exhibits both strong and weak hydrogen bonding. The reported self-healing material allows for small holes and rips to be repaired in approximately 24 hours. This material also demonstrated excellent stretchability allowing for a high elastic limit, where the material can return to its original length, as well as begin able to extend over 1200% before failure. Utilizing the flexible characteristics of this material a graphene-based flexible stretch sensor was produced. This presentation will demonstrate the self-heling characteristics as well as the mechanisms of the sensor application.