Stretchable, tough, and self-healing elastomer and applications thereof

An elastomer material comprising:

• a flexible polymer backbone with a particular ratio of at least first moieties and second moieties, wherein the first moieties are configured to provide a first number of dynamic bonds resulting from interactions between the first moieties;
• and the second moieties are configured to provide a second number of dynamic bonds resulting from interactions between the second moieties, the second number of dynamic bonds having a weaker bonding strength than the first number of dynamic bonds, and wherein the elastomer material, at least in part based on the ratio of the first moieties and second moieties, exhibits autonomous self-healing, a particular toughness set as a function of the ratio, and exhibits stretchability as characterized by one or a combination of-stretchability of at least 500 percent without rupturing and notch-insensitive stretchability under a strain, wherein the strain is in a range from 150 percent strain to 1200 percent strain, and wherein the flexible polymer backbone is selected from the group consisting of:
• polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polyethyleneoxide (PEO), Perfluoropolyether (PFPE), polybutylene (PB), poly(ethylene-co-1-butylene), poly(butadiene), hydrogenated poly(butadiene), polybutylene, poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) block copolymer or random copolymer, and poly(hydroxyalkanoate) and the at least first and second moieties are randomly or equally spaced from one another.

An elastomer material comprising:

• a flexible polymer backbone with a particular ratio of at least first moieties and second moieties, wherein the first moieties are configured to provide a first number of dynamic bonds resulting from interactions between the first moieties;
• and
• the second moieties are configured to provide a second number of dynamic bonds resulting from interactions between the second moieties, the second number of dynamic bonds having a weaker bonding strength than the first number of dynamic bonds, and wherein the elastomer material, at least in part based on the ratio of the first moieties and second moieties, exhibits autonomous self-healing, a particular toughness, and is stretchable, and wherein the elastomer material is characterized in that:
• at least in part based on the ratio of the first moieties and second moieties, the elastomer material exhibits autonomous self-healing, a particular toughness, and notch insensitivity under a strain wherein the strain is in a range from 150 percent strain to 1200 percent strain;
• or when a strain is applied to the elastomer material, the dynamic bonds of the first number are characterized as being sufficient to block induced crack propagation while the bonds having a weaker bonding strength simultaneously break and dissipate strain energy.

A method comprising:

• selecting a ratio of at least a first moiety and a second moiety based on one or more designated mechanical properties;
• forming a viscous solution that includes a flexible polymer and the ratio of the at least first moiety and the second moiety;
• and
• from the viscous solution, forming a polymer film includes a supramolecular network of elastomer material, the elastomer material having a flexible polymer backbone that includes the flexible polymer with the selected ratio of the at least first moieties and second moieties, the first moieties being configured and arranged to provide a first number of dynamic bonds resulting from interactions between the first moieties and the second moieties being configured and arranged to provide a second number of dynamic bonds resulting from interactions between the second moieties, the second number of dynamic bonds having a weaker bonding strength than the first number of dynamic bonds, wherein the formed polymer film exhibits autonomous self-healing, a Young's modulus of between 0.1 and 3.0 megapascal (MPa), and stretchability in a range of 1,200 to 3,000 percent without rupturing.

An elastomer material comprising:

• a flexible polymer backbone with a particular ratio of at least first moieties and second moieties, wherein the first moieties are configured to provide a first number of dynamic bonds resulting from interactions between the first moieties;
• and
• the second moieties are configured to provide a second number of dynamic bonds resulting from interactions between the second moieties, the second number of dynamic bonds having a weaker bonding strength than the first number of dynamic bonds, and
• wherein the elastomer material exhibits properties set as a function of the ratio, the properties including autonomous self-healing, a Young's modulus of at least 0.1 megapascals (MPa), a degree of stretchability without rupturing, and a particular toughness that is associated with a fracture energy and/or a fracture strain, wherein during use with the elastomer material under strain forces the dynamic bonds of the first number are characterized as being sufficient to block induced crack propagation while the weak bonds simultaneously break and dissipate strain energy.