Thermo-moldable self-healing commodity plastics with heat resisting and oxygen-insensitive healant capable of room temperature redox cationic polymerization

Abstract

Commercially available polystyrene is coupled with self-healability by exploiting a novel healing chemistry of redox cationic polymerization. In this system, iodonium bis(4-methylphenyl) hexafluorophosphate (IBH)/glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) loaded microcapsules and NaBH₄ particles are embedded in the matrix through compression molding. The healant is oxygen insensitive and heat resistant so that it meets the requirement of remendable thermoplastics.