Abstract
A multifunctional ferrocene-modified poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA-Fc) and a difunctional β-cyclodextrin derivative (bis-CD) has been prepared for the construction of an electrically driven removable and self-healing polymeric materials based on the complexation reaction between ferrocene and β-CD groups. The chemical structures of PGMA-Fc and bis-CD have been characterized with Fourier transform infrared, 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The effects of electrical voltages and medium conductivity on the decrosslinking efficiency of the crosslinked PGMA-Fc/CD polymer have been examined. The PGMA-Fc/CD network has shown removable feature and properties for application as a reworkable crosslinked material. Moreover, the crosslinked PGMA-Fc/CD sample has shown electrically driven self-healing behavior. The self-healing performance could be enhanced with wetting the sample to increase the electrical conductivity. As a result, the material could serve as a self-healing agent for commercial painting products. Preparation and application of a novel and efficient self-healing polymer have been demonstrated. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.