Fast healing conductive polymer composite based on carbon black and polyurethane containing disulfide bonds

The electrically conductive healing polymer composites, which have the ability to recover conductivity after damage, are promising candidates as electrodes for electrical devices. In this work, a solvent casting method was used to prepare a healing conductive polymer composite of polyurethane (PU) and carbon black (CB). PU contains dynamic disulfide bonds that can undergo metathesis inducing a fast healing property. The electrical conductivity of the PU/CB composite is recovered by heating at 70°C for 1 min as a result of the synergistic effect of the hydrogen bond and disulfide metathesis. The tensile test shows complete recovery of stress but lower strain after cut and heals at 70°C for 1 h. The fast healing electrical conductivity, excellent mechanical property recovery along with easy preparation offer this PU/CB composite as a prospective candidate for optoelectronic and energy-related devices.