Sulfur-rich polymers with heating/UV light-responsive shape memory and temperature-modulated self-healing

Abstract

Inverse vulcanized polymers from elemental sulfur with blended mono-/di-olefins have the advantages of simple production and high atom economy, allowing them to adhere to the principles of green and sustainable chemistry. The ternary co-polymer presented herein has an adjustable glass and topological transition temperature due to the S–S dynamic network and the different feed ratios of mono-/di-olefins in the copolymerization process, together with a shape memory and self-healing capacity at different temperatures, with the lowest at 30 °C. A series of interesting properties and performances of the obtained polymers in terms of elasticity, plasticity, complex heating/ultraviolet light stimulated shape memory properties, and temperature-modulated self-healing ability have been revealed, responding to the fracture and re-bonding of the S–S bond to reconstruct the cross-linked network. The strategy could be used in the manufacture of complex three-dimensional (3D) structures for biological applications, and also has potential in shape storage devices and self-healing materials.