Self-healing polymers based on a photo-active reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent

A symmetric photo-active trithiocarbonate was designed and synthesized, which can act not only as a functional reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent, but also as a crosslinker in crosslinking poly(methyl methacrylate- co -hydroxy ethyl acrylate) (poly(MMA- co -HEA)) due to interactions of benzophenone moieties of trithiocarbonate and hydroxyl groups of poly(MMA- co -HEA) under UV irradiation. In addition, the crosslinked poly(MMA- co -HEA) demonstrates photo-promoted self-healing properties by reshuffling C-S bonds of trithiocarbonate.