The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Self-healing materials that can autonomously recover from any damage are gaining interest in their potential in adaptive and durable systems. In this study, we developed a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) with intrinsic self-healing properties, enabled by reversible supramolecular interactions and dynamic covalent bonding. Upon thermal activation, the TPU films can fully recover from damage such as scratches or cuts. It also exhibits a shape-memory effect, allowing controlled deformation and recovery. To explore functional applications, the TPU was processed into microfibers via wet-spinning. The material system exhibits in-drop capillary spooling, where the microfibers spontaneously coil inside a liquid droplet due to interfacial forces and internal stress recovery. This phenomenon highlights the interplay between material self-healing, shape memory, and capillary-driven motion, suggesting potential applications in soft actuators, bio-integrated systems, and smart fiber-based devices.