Mechanical Restoration of Damaged Polymer Films by "Repair-and-Go"

A microencapsulation and nanoparticle deposition technique, termed “repair‐and‐go,” is employed for inducing mechanical restoration of damaged polymer films. In “repair‐and‐go,” polymer‐stabilized emulsion droplets, containing surface‐functionalized SiO2 nanoparticles, traverse a substrate and deposit their nanoparticle contents selectively into the damaged regions. Surface‐oxidized poly(dimethylsiloxane) is employed as the substrate, and dynamic mechanical analysis reveals the enhanced mechanical properties of the film following nanoparticle deposition. Healing efficiency is optimal when using thinner test substrates, repeated deposition cycles, and functional SiO2 nanoparticles that afford access to postdeposition curing. Microencapsulation and nanoparticle deposition are combined in a materials healing technique termed “repair‐and‐go”. It has been shown that polymer‐stabilized oil droplets can traverse a substrate and deposit nanoparticles into the damaged regions of a polymer film. Dynamic mechanical analysis demonstrated effective restoration of mechanical properties through assessment of film stiffness.