A polymer material that can recover damaged areas by itself and can be recycled after use has been successfully developed from a plastic mixture. It is expected to be widely used in coating materials for automobiles, airplanes, ships, as well as space antennas and smart clothing.
The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) announced on the 23rd that a research team led by Kim Tae-an, head of the Electromagnetic Wave Solutions Convergence Research Division, has developed a new polymer material with self-healing capabilities and recyclability. This research result was published on the 19th in the international academic journal in the field of materials science, "Advanced Functional Materials."
Polymeric materials like plastics are lightweight and durable and can be designed in various ways, making them widely used in everyday life and across industries, but they have the disadvantage of being difficult to treat as waste. According to KIST, about 52 million tons of plastic waste are generated annually.
Due to this, the need for the development of polymer materials that can repair their own damaged areas to extend their lifespan or can be converted into other resources for reuse after use has grown. However, the complex synthetic processes required and the difficulty of separation when mixed with other waste have been limitations.
To overcome this, the research team designed a molecule with a "pentagonal ring" structure that allows the basic unit molecules (monomers) for making polymers and the polymers themselves to transition freely. This molecule can create polymers with various physical properties by adhering and detaching in response to heat, light, or mechanical force. Additionally, the damaged areas can be seen fluorescently, making management easy, and they can self-repair when exposed to heat and light.
Another advantage is that it can be easily separated and recycled during the waste processing process. Even if it is mixed with other plastics, it can be easily separated with the addition of specific catalysts. During this time, the separated monomers can be used to recreate the polymers while maintaining their original properties, the research team explained.
Kim, the head researcher, noted that "We are working to develop an environmentally friendly functional coating material market that does not incur long-term maintenance expense through the spontaneous functionality of the material's coating process while leaving no waste."
References
Advanced Functional Materials(2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202414842