Mechanically robust room-temperature self-healing waterborne polyurethane with antimicrobial properties constructed through multiple dynamic bonds

In this study, 2,6-diacetylpyridine dioxime was synthesized from 2,6-diacetylpyridine and hydroxylamine hydrochloride as raw materials and bonded into the molecular chain of waterborne polyurethane as an alcohol chain extender, Subsequent addition of Cu 2+ interacted with the Schiff base structure in the WPU molecular chain to generate room-temperature self-healing polymeric materials with multiple dynamic bonds based on ligand bonds, oxime carbamates, and hydrogen bonds. Due to the synergistic effect of multiple dynamic bonds, DWPU-Cu 0.25 exhibited excellent mechanical properties (tensile strength of 11.9 MPa and elongation at break of 1620%) and excellent room temperature self-healing ability (healing efficiencies of 89.1% and 95.8% for elongation at break and tensile strength, after 72 h of room temperature healing). Additionally, antibacterial experiments showed that DWPU-Cu films can release copper ions and create antibacterial zones around polyurethane films, demonstrating their use in the field of antibacterial coatings. This work also opened up new possibilities for the synthesis of room-temperature self-healing multifunctional waterborne polyurethanes.