Researchers at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel have created a database for chemists working with Diels-Alder reactions, focusing on covalent adaptive networks, they state in Macromolecules.

Covalent adaptive networks (CANs) are interesting for two reasons, says PhD student and first author Lise Vermeersch. ‘First, they are materials that can self-heal when exposed to, for example, heat, light or mechanical energy, which is fascinating in itself.’

This self-healing property gives the materials a longer lifespan and ties in with the second point. ‘The materials are very flexible because of the reversible reactions: you could easily recycle them or combine them into composites. In other words, they are very versatile.’