Hydrolytically stable self-healing elastomer

Abstract

The present invention provides a solution-processable self-healing hydrolytically stable elastomer, a method for the preparation thereof, and articles of manufacture comprising the elastomer. The elastomer comprises polymeric chains comprising units of formula (A1), wherein R is a polybutadiene-containing polyurethane; Rand Rare independently selected from the group consisting of: —H, (C-C)alkyl, (C-C)aryl, —OR, —(CO)R, —O(CO)R, —(SO)R, CO—R, —COOR, —NO, and halogen; R, R, Rand Rare independently selected from the group consisting of: —H, (C-C)alkyl, and (C-C)aryl; Rto Rare the same or different, and are independently selected from the group consisting of: —H, (C-C)alkyl, and (C-C)aryl; m is 4; wherein the elastomer is dynamically crosslinked by aromatic disulfide metathesis, and wherein the elastomer has a water contact angle of above 100 #.