91°µÍø

Adhesive and sealant materials are crucial in construction, automotive, and electronics industries. However, most adhesives fail under stress or environmental conditions like dust, water, or wear. Traditional self-healing adhesives typically require external stimuli, such as heat or UV light, to activate the healing process, which limits their usability in demanding conditions. This new technology addresses these challenges with a fully autonomous, self-healing adhesive that operates without external triggers.

Description

This invention presents a self-healing adhesive composition combining two key components: a self-healing polymer and an extrudable adhesive polymer base. The self-healing polymer features hydrogen bonding groups or long-chain alkyl groups that form reversible bonds, allowing the material to autonomously repair itself after damage. The extrudable polymer base provides the adhesive strength and durability required for various applications, such as sealing cracks or gaps in construction materials. Notably, the self-healing process works under ambient conditions and even underwater, making it highly versatile. The adhesive can also bond effectively to dusty surfaces without the need for primers.

Benefits

• Autonomous self-healing: Repairs itself without external triggers, such as heat or pressure.
• Exceptional adhesion: Bonds strongly to both clean and dusty surfaces, outperforming traditional adhesives.
• Water-resistant: Self-heals and maintains adhesion even in underwater environments.
• High strength and flexibility: Exhibits an elongation at break of over 2000%, providing both durability and flexibility.
• Dust resilience: Maintains high bonding strength (up to 3500 N/m) on dusty surfaces, unlike conventional adhesives.

Applications and Industries

• Building and construction: Ideal for sealing cracks and gaps in walls, ceilings, and foundations.
• Automotive: Can be used in vehicle assembly and repairs where strong, flexible bonding is needed.
• Aerospace and marine: Suitable for sealing and repairs in challenging environments, including underwater applications.
• Electronics: Effective for bonding flexible and wearable devices, where durability and self-repair are critical.

Contact

To learn more about this technology, email partnerships@ornl.gov or call 865-574-1051.