Researchers at Waseda University have developed a novel method for creating self-healing films with enhanced durability. The films are made up of alternating layers of highly cross-linked organosiloxane and linear polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The researchers used a self-assembly process to deposit a solution containing a precursor and a block copolymer onto a substrate, forming a layered structure. The film was then calcinated and treated with a solution to introduce silanolate groups, which enabled self-healing.
The final film showed superior properties compared to conventional PDMS-based materials, including a hardness of 1.50 GPa, which is 31 times harder than traditional PDMS. The film also exhibited improved thermal stability and a more durable self-healing ability. The researchers believe that this material could be used in a variety of applications, including protective coatings and flexible electronics.
Dr. Yoshiaki Miyamoto, the lead author of the study, notes that the material could be used in high-demand maintenance-free and durable applications. He believes that the novel method for creating self-healing films could pave the way for stronger, more reliable, and easier-maintained self-healing materials.