Self-healing photocured methacrylic resins utilizing host–guest interactions of cyclodextrin and adamantane

Photocuring mixtures of a β-cyclodextrin-glycidyl methacrylate adduct (CD-GMA) with a GMA substitution degree of 1.5, 1-adamantanecarboxylic acid-glycidyl methacrylate adduct (AdC-GMA), and poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGMA, Mn 500) produced polymethacrylate-network (CAP) films incorporating cyclodextrin–adamantane host–guest units. The effects of the feed amount of PEGMA on the thermal, mechanical, and self-healing properties of the cured products were investigated. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and gel fraction measurements confirmed the formation of polymethacrylate networks. The tan δ peak temperatures (Tαs) recorded via dynamic mechanical analysis for the cured films were in the range of −19 to −26 °C. The tensile strengths and moduli of the network films decreased with increasing PEGMA contents. All the photocured films, except for the CAP film with the lowest PEGMA fraction, exhibited self-healing properties at room temperature. The CAP film with a CD-GMA:AdC-GMA:PEGMA molar ratio of 1:1:10 exhibited the highest healing efficiency and healed at least three times.