Weldable and Reprocessable Biomimetic Polymer Networks Based on a Hydrogen Bonding and Dynamic Covalent Thiourea Motif

Abstract

Here we describe the use of thiourea linkage as a hydrogen (H) bonding and dynamic covalent dual-functional motif to enhance mechanical versatility in biomimetic polymer networks (BMPNs). By controlling the dynamic thiourea bond exchanges in the covalently cross-linked BMPNs, greatly improved malleability and reprocessability are obtained while maintaining their assorted mechanical characteristics of stiffness, strength, toughness, resilience, and adaptability. Such characteristics enable versatile shape manipulation and mechanical functions of the BMPN-based 3D structures, including shape reconfiguration, welding, shape memory, load bearing, deformation/recovery, repair, and reprocessing.