A Self-healing and Flame-retardant Poly(urethane-urea) Elastomer Driven by Hydrogen Bonds and Phosphorus-Nitrogen Synergy

Chen-Qing Wu; Zeng Wang; Tian-Yu Xiu; Xu Zhu; Jun-Min Wan

doi:10.1007/s10118-025-3510-8

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A Self-healing and Flame-retardant Poly(urethane-urea) Elastomer Driven by Hydrogen Bonds and Phosphorus-Nitrogen Synergy

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2026-01-30

- A Self-healing and Flame-retardant Poly(urethane-urea) Elastomer Driven by Hydrogen Bonds and Phosphorus-Nitrogen Synergy
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 44, Issue 2, Pages: 499-512(2026)
- Affiliations：
  
  a.National Engineering Lab of Textile Fiber Materials & Processing Technology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
  b.Tongxiang Research Institute, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Jiaxing 314599, China
- Author bio：
  
  wwjm2001@126.com or wanjunmin@zstu.edu.cn
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-025-3510-8
  CLC：
- Received：11 October 2025，
  
  Accepted：18 November 2025，
  
  Published Online：19 January 2026，
  
  Published：05 February 2026
- Accepted：
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Wu, C. Q.; Wang, Z.; Xiu, T. Y.; Zhu, X.; Wan, J. M. A self-healing and flame-retardant poly(urethane-urea) elastomer driven by hydrogen bonds and phosphorus-nitrogen synergy. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 499–512

Chen-Qing Wu, Zeng Wang, Tian-Yu Xiu, et al. A Self-healing and Flame-retardant Poly(urethane-urea) Elastomer Driven by Hydrogen Bonds and Phosphorus-Nitrogen Synergy[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(2): 499-512.
Wu, C. Q.; Wang, Z.; Xiu, T. Y.; Zhu, X.; Wan, J. M. A self-healing and flame-retardant poly(urethane-urea) elastomer driven by hydrogen bonds and phosphorus-nitrogen synergy. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 499–512 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3510-8.

Chen-Qing Wu, Zeng Wang, Tian-Yu Xiu, et al. A Self-healing and Flame-retardant Poly(urethane-urea) Elastomer Driven by Hydrogen Bonds and Phosphorus-Nitrogen Synergy[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(2): 499-512. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3510-8.

摘要

A multifunctional poly(urethane-urea) elastomer

engineered with dynamic hydrogen bonds and a phosphorus-nitrogen flame retardant

achieves over 94.46% self-healing efficiency and a V-0 flame-retardant rating while maintaining high mechanical strength.

Abstract

Although poly(urethane-urea) elastomers (PUEs) possess excellent mechanical properties and durability

their inherent flammability and inability to self-repair after damage significantly limits their applications in high-end fields. To address this challenge

this study employs a supramolecular chemistry approach by simultaneously incorporating multiple hydrogen bonds as dynamic cross-linking points and a phosphorus-nitrogen synergistic flame-retardant structure into the poly(urethane-urea) network. The multiple hydrogen bonds endow the material with efficient intrinsic self-healing capability

while the phosphorus-nitrogen flame retardant ensures outstanding thermal stability and flame resistance

leading to the successful synthesis of a high-performance multifunctional poly(urethane-urea) elastomer. Experimental results demonstrated that when the content of the flame retardant diethyl (2-((2-aminoethyl)amino)ethyl)phosphoramidate (DEPTA) was 10 wt%

the resulting PUE/10%DEPTA achieved a V-0 rating in the vertical burning test

with a limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 30%. Concurrently

the elastomer maintained good toughness

exhibiting a tensile strength of 27.3 MPa

an elongation at break of 601%

and a self-healing efficiency of up to 94.46%. This breakthrough shows significant promise for advanced engineering applications that demand fire safety

structural durability

and extended service life through self-repair.

关键词

Keywords

references

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