Self-Healing in Epoxy Based Polymer Films Triggered by UV Light

MARÍA BELÉN JAUREGUI; LUCIANA SÁIZ; PATRICIA A. OYANGUREN; MARÍA J GALANTE

Simposio; XVI Simposio Latinoamericano de Polímeros, XIV Congreso Iberoamericano de Polímeros; 2018

Self-healing materials are smart materials capable of regaining their original shapes from damaged or distorted forms after being exposed to some stimuli such as chemicals, heat, moisture or light1. Azobenzenes are one of the most abundant light-response molecules, known for their ability to change their physical and optical properties under the appropriate stimuli. Very recently, azobenzene was found to be a light-powered healing material for wearable electrical devices2. The authors attributed this effect to the photoisomerization of azobenzene which endorsed the whole polymer matrix to undergo bulk diffusion even below Tg or Tm.In this study we report the physical changes that occur in an epoxy-based photoresponsive material containing an azobenzene, after exposure to UV radiation.