Constructing mechanically robust, efficient self-healing, high-energy, and recyclable energetic composites by hybrid dynamic lock strategy

Abstract

It is still a huge challenge to introduce effective crack-healing ability into energetic composites with a high oxidizer content. In this article, a poly(urea-urethane) energetic elastomer was prepared by the polycondensation reaction of glycidyl azido polymer (GAP), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), and 2-aminophenyl disulfide (2-APD). In the poly(urea-urethane) elastomer structure, the hybrid dynamic lock, including multilevel H-bonds and disulfide bonds, not only provides abundant dynamic interactions and promotes chain diffusion, but also enhances physical crosslinking density. Such a unique design fabricated the energetic elastomer with robust tensile strength (0.72 MPa), high stretchability (1631%), and outstanding toughness (8.95 MJ/m³) in the field of energetic polymers. Meanwhile, this energetic elastomer exhibited high self-healing efficiency (98.4% at 60 °C) and heat release (Q = 1750.46 J/g). Experimental and theoretical results adequately explain the self-healing mechanism, particularly the role of azido units. The high-solid content (80 wt%) energetic composites based on the energetic elastomer presented outstanding micro-defect self-healing (97.8%) and recycling without loss of mechanical performance. The development of smart energetic composites with excellent self-healing and recyclable ability provides a meaningful way for a wide range of applications in the field of energetic materials.

Keywords

cyclic utilization / energetic composites / healing mechanism / self-healing energetic polymer

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