Japanese scientists create 'self-healing' polymer

RIKEN scientists in Japan have created a “self-healing” polymer made from a common chemical that is aimed, not only at minimizing the environmental impacts of commercial polymers, but also improving durability and cost efficiency.

According to a release by RIKEN, polymers that are able to heal themselves can last longer, which leads to cost reduction and benefits for the environment altogether. 

Scientists have made a form of polyolefin polyisoprene, which is the equivalent of rubber latex, that is self-healing. It is produced from the same building block as polyisoprene-isoprene.

“Polyolefins are all around us. They are used for food packaging, clothing, automobiles and electronic and medical devices,” says Zhaomin Hou of the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science in Yokohama. “Making self-healable polyolefins would enhance the lifetime, safety and environmental impact of materials used in many applications.”

The release stated that the team of scientists cut a block of it in half and brought the pieces to room temperature for a minute. The healed sample took on a weight of 2 1/2 kilograms without tearing. This was done using a “rare-earth catalyst” to produce a mixture of the microstructures of polyisoprene. The scientists found there was a 7:3 hard-to-soft ratio for the microstructure, which made it able to self-heal.

“The ultimate goal is to use easily available commodity monomers to produce tough self-healing polymers that are capable of spontaneously repairing when they sustain mechanical damage in real-world environments without any external input,” Hou said. “We believe that this work offers unprecedented insights to help achieve this goal.”

Developing self-healing polymers is a significant discovery. It can lead to longer-lasting products with a lower environmental impact. The use of commodity momomers and simple synthesis processes could make the production more accessible and cost-effective. It could also help industries, such as aerospace and transportation, as they can repair themselves in harsh environments.

The development of a self-healing polymer by Hou and colleagues at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science using an off-the-shelf compound is a promising step toward producing durable and environmentally friendly polymers, the researchers say. 

They add that with further research, the use of commodity monomers and simple synthesis processes could lead to widespread adoption of self-healing polymers and revolutionize many industries.