Thermal switching between solid- and liquid-like behavior of dispersed semi-crystalline telechelics and nanohybrids tailored for temperature-induced healing of polyethylene cracks

The addition of nanophase-separated semi-crystalline oligo(cyclooctenes) bearing different end-groups enables temperature-induced healing of polyethylene cracks. Key feature of these “repair-and-go” systems is the thermally triggered transition of healing agents from solid to liquid state accompanied by fast migration to crack interfaces and crack sealing via interfacial self-assembly and cocrystallization.211