title: A thermally re-mendable cross-linked polymeric material.
abstract: We have developed a transparent organic polymeric material that can repeatedly mend or "re-mend" itself under mild conditions. The material is a tough solid at room temperature and below with mechanical properties equaling those of commercial epoxy resins. At temperatures above 120 degrees C, approximately 30% (as determined by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy) of "intermonomer" linkages disconnect but then reconnect upon cooling, This process is fully reversible and can be used to restore a fractured part of the polymer multiple times, and it does not require additional ingredients such as a catalyst, additional monomer, or special surface treatment of the fractured interface.
authors.affiliation: Exotic Materials Institute and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Xiangxu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Matheus A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dam
authors.forename: Kanji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Ajit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mal
authors.forename: Hongbin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Nutt
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sheran
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wudl