Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SHINTO (Self HealINg soft materials for susTainable prOducts)
Reporting period: 2022-10-01 to 2023-09-30
The EU Green Deal provides actions to strengthen the decarbonisation efforts, ranging from product sustainability to the supply of raw materials. Their Circular Economy Action Plan also aims at increasing the durability of a product. Consecutively, VUB-research groups - FYSC and Brubotics - have developed breakthroughs in soft robots and its processing techniques out of self-healing materials that fully recover functional properties after healing the incurred damage. Together with stronger multi-material interfacial properties, this can extend product lifetimes and raise their reliability and sustainability. Which, in combination with the material’s inherent recyclability (mechanical & chemical), contributes to economic benefits and the EU Green Deal. The goal of the EU-funded SHINTO project is to mature the technology for field testing and business development.
In our quest to propel the integration of self-healing polymers into venturing for industrial applications, our business development team has undertaken a comprehensive market analysis and engaged in insightful interviews with key industry players. This concerted effort has yielded valuable insights into the huge potential applications of self-healing polymers, highlighting significant opportunities in the realms of soft robotics, 3D printing, and bike tire applications.
To align with market demands, we have delineated two work packages aimed at elevating the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of our self-healing polymer technology. These work packages encompass a systematic approach towards enhancing the technology's viability and applicability within targeted industries.
To align with market demands, we have delineated two work packages aimed at elevating the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of our self-healing polymer technology. These work packages encompass a systematic approach towards enhancing the technology's viability and applicability within targeted industries.
The knowledge of structure-reactivity and structure-property relations have been exploited to create a wide array of self-healing polymers (SHP) with mechanical and viscoelastic properties, thermal transitions and self-healing performance tuned in view of the targeted industrial applications. A thorough study of autonomous healing using Diels-Alder (DA) chemistry has resulted in an important expansion of Diels-Alder-based SHP for applications in soft robotic grippers, flexible electronics and tire applications.