Introduction of self-healing properties into covalent polymer networks via the photodissociation of alkoxyamine junctions

Poly(n-butyl acrylate) networks were prepared by conducting click chemistry between dialkyne alkoxyamines and azide functionalized star-like oligomers synthesized by ATRP. The dissociation of alkoxyamines under UV irradiation was exploited to cleave the junctions between the network of starlike precursors. The efficiency of the cleavage, generating dangling nitroxides and increased mobility of poly(n-butyl acrylate) segments, was examined by ESR monitoring. The network progressively reformed after irradiation via the recombination of radical species. These reactions resulted in self-healing behavior, which was observed by AFM.