%0 Journal Article
%T Effect of natural melanin nanoparticles on a self-healing cross-linked polyurethane
%J -
%D 2019
%R https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-018-0153-4
%X Natural melanin nanoparticles (MNs) stripped from cuttlefishes were purified and characterized for the first time. The reactive groups (¨COH or ¨CNH2) of the MNs at a concentration of 6.0£¿mmol/g react with isocyanate groups in pre-polyurethane (pre-PU) to form cross-links, further strengthening the self-healing of PU based on the reversible acylhydrazone bond that was synthesized for the first time in this study. Then, the performances of different mass fractions of self-healing PU modified with MNs (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5£¿wt%) were characterized. We found that PU modified with 1.5£¿wt% of MNs showed better performance due to the adjustment of the micro-phase separation in PU, with the ¦Ò and ¦Å values improved from 0.81£¿MPa and 405.44% to 2.75£¿MPa and 483.17%, respectively. Surprisingly, the self-healing efficiency, defined by the recovery of ¦Å, was improved from 91.73% to 99.58% due to the strong interactions between the MNs and PU. The aim of this study was to perfectly combine the organic active fillers¡ªmelanin nanoparticles¡ªwith self-healing materials to enhance their performance
%U https://www.nature.com/articles/s41428-018-0153-4