Next Article in Journal
Anomalous Paramagnetic Meissner-like AC Response in EuRbFe4As4 Superconductor
Previous Article in Journal
Special Issue “Characteristics of Dental Ceramics”
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Materials
Volume 19
Issue 7
10.3390/ma19071366
materials-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

UV-Induced Self-Renewing Wear-Resistant Flexible Polymer from a Polyurethane/Thiol–Ene Hybrid System

by
Wenhao Wang
1,
Yanhui Niu
1,2,*,
Jiuguang Geng
1,*,
Yu Zeng
1,
Peng Yang
1,
Zewen He
1,
Xu Li
3 and
Bin Luan
4
1
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710061, China
2
Great Bay Institute for Advanced Study, Great Bay University, Dongguan 200438, China
3
School of Transportation Engineering, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710061, China
4
Yuzhongqing Waterproof Technology Group Co., Ltd., Xi’an 710200, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Materials 2026, 19(7), 1366; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19071366
Submission received: 13 February 2026 / Revised: 16 March 2026 / Accepted: 26 March 2026 / Published: 30 March 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Polymeric Materials)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

Developing materials that simultaneously exhibit bulk elasticity and a durable, self-renewing surface is a persistent challenge, as traditional fillers often impair flexibility and sacrificial coatings fail under repeated strain. This paper presents an innovative thiol–ene/polyurethane hybrid system, fabricated via a sequential thermal–UV curing process, which decouples the properties of the highly elastic bulk from those of the robust surface layer. The resulting bulk elastomer achieves an outstanding combination of high strength (20.9 MPa) and exceptional extensibility (990% elongation at break). Crucially, the UV-crosslinked surface forms a dense, abrasion-resistant shield that reduces friction-induced mass loss by 81% compared to the bulk material. This surface layer also exhibits a unique self-renewing capability, effectively restoring its protective function over at least three abrasion cycles and reducing mass loss by 57% after the first recovery cycle relative to an unprotected control. Dynamic mechanical analysis validates the distinct dual-network structure, evidenced by two well-separated glass transition temperatures, which underpin the material’s pronounced shape memory effect. This work provides a design paradigm for creating flexible and durable polymer systems with independently tailored bulk and surface properties, offering significant potential for applications in artificial skin and demanding flexible components.
Keywords: thiol–ene chemistry; polyurethane hybrid; dual-network; self-renewing surface; wear-resistant thiol–ene chemistry; polyurethane hybrid; dual-network; self-renewing surface; wear-resistant

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Wang, W.; Niu, Y.; Geng, J.; Zeng, Y.; Yang, P.; He, Z.; Li, X.; Luan, B. UV-Induced Self-Renewing Wear-Resistant Flexible Polymer from a Polyurethane/Thiol–Ene Hybrid System. Materials 2026, 19, 1366. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19071366

AMA Style

Wang W, Niu Y, Geng J, Zeng Y, Yang P, He Z, Li X, Luan B. UV-Induced Self-Renewing Wear-Resistant Flexible Polymer from a Polyurethane/Thiol–Ene Hybrid System. Materials. 2026; 19(7):1366. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19071366

Chicago/Turabian Style

Wang, Wenhao, Yanhui Niu, Jiuguang Geng, Yu Zeng, Peng Yang, Zewen He, Xu Li, and Bin Luan. 2026. "UV-Induced Self-Renewing Wear-Resistant Flexible Polymer from a Polyurethane/Thiol–Ene Hybrid System" Materials 19, no. 7: 1366. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19071366

APA Style

Wang, W., Niu, Y., Geng, J., Zeng, Y., Yang, P., He, Z., Li, X., & Luan, B. (2026). UV-Induced Self-Renewing Wear-Resistant Flexible Polymer from a Polyurethane/Thiol–Ene Hybrid System. Materials, 19(7), 1366. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19071366

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop