Re-healable Supramolecular Polymers Stuart J. Rowan, Case Western Reserve University, DMR 0602869

1. Re-healable Supramolecular PolymersStuart J. Rowan, Case Western Reserve University, DMR 0602869 (with M.E. Mackay (U. Delaware), H. Colquhoun and W. Hayes (U. Reading, UK, funded by EPSRC) Mechanically stable plastic films that show the ability to heal cracks upon exposure to elevated temperatures for a short period of time have been prepared. The films are comprised of two low molecular weight components which exhibit significant non-covalent (based on complementary p-p stacking) interactions, resulting in a supra-molecular polymer network. The films can be cut and healed repeatedly and still exhibit their original mechanical strength. Such classes of material are a step toward the development of plastics that can be healed dramatically enhancing the useful lifetime of such polymers. Mn ca. 16,400 Solution cast Mn ca. 5,900 Fast Crack Healing < 5 sec

2. Nature’s Polymers: Discovery DayStuart J. Rowan, Case Western Reserve University, DMR 0602869 On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 2009, the team (PI, Chris Weder and their groups) ran the 6th round of the Nature’s Polymers science outreach program as part of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s (CMNH) Winter Discovery Day. Over 800 visitors embarked on a tour that typically lasted 20 minutes and took them along 5 science stations (each manned by 2 graduate students) where they learned “What is a Polymer?”, “How Plants and Animals Use Polymers” and “How to Process Polymers”. In the 6 years of this event ca. 5,000 children and adults have been introduced to the basic concepts of polymers and how Nature finds uses for such materials.