Self-Healing Polyurethanes Based on Natural Raw Materials

On the basis of furfuryl glycidyl ether, the product derived from furfural, diol chain extenders have been synthesized. Using these chain extenders and bismaleimide as a crosslinker polyurethanes with thermally induced self-healing effect have been prepared by the reversible Diels–Alder reaction. The structure of the synthesized polymers is studied by IR spectroscopy. Thermal and physicomechanical properties of the materials are also investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements revealed the cyclic nature of direct and retro-Diels–Alder reactions. Visual assessment of the self-healing ability of the material is carried out using scanning electron microscopy. Quantitative evaluation (the self-healing efficiency of the Young’s modulus and strength) is performed by means of dynamometric analysis of initial and recovered polymer samples. It has been demonstrated that the content of dynamic bonds affects the properties of polyurethanes, as well as the efficiency of self-healing.