Dynamic Covalent and Supramolecular Networks for Self-Healing and Recyclable Polymers
This community develops polymer materials that can repair themselves, be reshaped, or recycled by using reversible chemical bonds and non-covalent interactions. The work focuses on creating elastomers, hydrogels, and thermosets that maintain mechanical strength while allowing structural reconfiguration.
The research centers on dynamic covalent networks, specifically vitrimers and boronic ester systems, which enable reprocessability and self-healing in traditionally rigid materials. A significant portion of the work involves natural rubber and butadiene rubber composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide, and zinc oxide to enhance mechanical robustness. Hydrogen bonding and supramolecular architectures are also prominent, particularly in the design of tough, biodegradable polyurethane elastomers and double-network hydrogels. These materials are engineered for applications requiring crack tolerance, shape memory, and autonomous healing, such as soft electronics and durable structural components.
The community is most heavily represented in sulfur research, accounting for 0.3% of all sulfur-related papers, followed by boron at 0.4% and zinc at 0.2%. Sulfur also contributes the highest absolute number of papers within this group, with 805 entries.
The community comprises 5,685 papers, with the highest publication volume in the Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Macromolecules, and Polymer.
Recent work continues to explore phenylboronic acid biomaterials, vitrimers as sustainable alternatives to thermosets, and the mechanical performance of rubber blends reinforced with halloysite nanotubes and graphene oxide.