Combination of permanent hydrosilylation and reversible Diels–Alder reactions for self-healing poly(dimethylsiloxane) materials with enhanced ageing properties

Poly (dimethylsiloxane)s (PDMS) are widely used in space applications thanks to their transparency, thermal and UV resistance, inter alia. The prolonged exposure of these materials the geostationary environment leads apparition cracks changes optical properties, this being detrimental function. To enhance lifespan, self-healing PDMS based on a dual network featuring both permanent reversible units hydrosilylation Diels–Alder reactions were designed. tunable chemical composition networks was characterized by proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR) Fourier-transformed infrared-attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR) measurements. mechanical behaviors pristine healed mainly studied differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic analysis, tensiometry. Ageing under irradiations also performed, simulating part radiations encountered environment. Ultraviolet-visible-near infrared analyses carried out compare properties before after irradiations. Finally, degradation mechanisms FTIR-ATR discussed.