Double dynamic polymer network architectures for multi-stimuliresponsive materials.

Applications are becoming ever more technologically challenging,
design criteria for structures ever more complex and material
requirements ever more demanding. In light of these scientific
challenges, smart materials are being developed. Stimuli-responsive
materials are such smart materials, exhibiting adaptability in
response of environmental stimuli. Self-healing materials are able to
repair damage and recover their functional properties. However, very
often a trade-off exists between the reversible nature of the reversible
bonds and the mechanical properties required for the application.
The proposed research aims at combining multiple responsive
chemistries, in view of combining (1) good self-healing capabilities
and (2) reversible processing and manufacturing, with (3) excellent
structural stability and (4) precise control over local stiffness
gradients and responsive behaviour in complex geometrical
structures.
Detailed experimental investigations of the (a) reaction kinetics and
related (b) structure-property development will result in new
fundamental insights and models that can be used to (c) simulate the
multi-stimuli-responsive behaviour of (d) carefully designed
multidynamic polymer network structures. These fundamental results
will be valorised for the additive manufacturing of soft robotic
actuators with optimized self-healing behaviour and structural
stability and for the cr