A team at RIKEN’s Center for Environmental Resources Science has developed a precise copolymerization of ethylene and anisylpropylenes by using a proprietary rare earth catalyst. The new polymer exhibits high elongation (2200%) and excellent self-repairing performance. It can be deployed as a shape memory material by temperature control and exhibits ashape recovery rate of 99%. No deterioration in function was observed even when repeatedly deformed.
RIKEN news release, February 7, 2019
RIKEN team develops novel self-healing polymers