Patent Title: Self-Repairing Polyurethane Networks

 Number/Link: US20160289495

Applicant/Assignee: Clemson University

Publication date: 6-10-2016

“Gist”: Polyurethane networks with alkylated polysaccharide moiety show self-healing properties

Why it is interesting: Chitosan (pref.) is alkylated by reacting with dodecylaldehyde (in solvent) and reducing the resulting imine with sodium cyanoborohydride. The alkylated chitosan is then reacted with isocyanate and polyol.  When used as coating, the material is claimed to show self-healing properties when irradiated with UV light. Modifying the composition by incorporation of catechol, or by changing the saccharide allows for materials which ‘heal’ when exposed to ferric ions or carbon dioxide. No explanation for this behaviour is given and it is not immediately clear to me why this should work.

Self-healing network according to the invention. The isocyanate used was (E)-3,5-bis(6-isocyanatohexyl)-6-( ( 6-isocyanatohexyl)imino )-1,3,5-oxadiazinane-2,4-dione. ALK= alkyl, POL=polyol.