Biomass-derived UV-curable polymer with self-healing, multi-stimulus-responsive shape memory, and fluorescence

The utilization of renewable biomass resources to develop multifunctional UV-curable coatings is crucial for sustainable development, environmental protection, and green chemistry, particularly for thermosetting materials, which are extensively utilized in practical applications. This study presents the synthesis of a novel, repairable, robust, shape memory, biobased UV-curable polymer derived from renewable cardanol by utilizing dynamic dioxaborolane bonds. This UV-curable polymer, which is prepared by the copolymerization of cardanol-based polyol acrylate containing dioxaborolane and castor oil-based polyurethane acrylate (CPolA-B/COUPA), has a maximum tensile strength of 23.52 MPa. The UV-curable polymer showed a 100% healing efficiency at 50% RH, and the temporary polymer shape can revert to its initial shape when subjected to various stimuli, such as heat, microwave, and IR radiation. In addition, this UV-curable polymer exhibited multicolor emission properties. This study offers a new perspective for designing biomass-derived UV-curable polymers with excellent mechanical and desirable attributes, such as shape memory, self-healing, and adjustable fluorescence properties.