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Self-healing copolymeric materials comprising a plurality of intermediate strength crosslinks are provided. The copolymeric materials comprise a silicon component and a plurality of crosslinking components. The crosslinking components comprise a polymeric structure forming a structure held together

Self-healing copolymeric materials comprising a plurality of intermediate strength crosslinks are provided. The copolymeric materials comprise a silicon component and a plurality of crosslinking components. The crosslinking components comprise a polymeric structure forming a structure held together by ionic and/or hydrogen bonding with a net intermediate strength. The plurality of intermediate strength crosslinks provide toughness to the material, and allow for rehealing by allowing reforming of the crosslinks after a disruptive stress incidence. The material is also suited for recasting, and can be used as an active matrix by incorporating additional substances. Articles of manufacture incorporating such materials, and methods of recasting such materials are also provided.

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1. A crosslinked copolymeric material comprising first and second copolymers, said first copolymer comprising:at least one first silicon component attached to at least two first crosslinking components in the form of a block copolymer, a graft copolymer, or a combination thereof;wherein the first si

1. A crosslinked copolymeric material comprising first and second copolymers, said first copolymer comprising:at least one first silicon component attached to at least two first crosslinking components in the form of a block copolymer, a graft copolymer, or a combination thereof;wherein the first silicon component comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of a silicate, a siloxane, a silsesquioxane, and a mixture of any two or more thereof;wherein the first crosslinking components are polymers selected from the group consisting of a first beta-sheet forming peptide, a first coiled-coil forming peptide, a first triple-helix forming peptide, and a first ionomer;said second copolymer comprising:at least one second silicon component attached to at least two second crosslinking components in the form of a block copolymer, a graft copolymer, or a mixture thereof;wherein the second silicon component comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of a silicate, a siloxane, a silsesquioxane, and a mixture of any two or more thereof;wherein the second crosslinking components are polymers selected from the group consisting of a second beta-sheet forming peptide, a second coiled-coil forming peptide, a second triple-helix forming peptide, and a second ionomer;wherein the second copolymer can be the same as or different than the first copolymer;wherein the first and second crosslinking components interact to form a plurality of noncovalent intermediate strength crosslinks within the material of at least about 30 piconewtons and less than about 1000 piconewtons in strength;wherein the crosslinked material exhibits at least about 5% self-healing upon disruption of its structure. 2. The material of claim 1, wherein the first and second crosslinking components are beta-sheet forming peptides. 3. The material of claim 2, when the first and second crosslinking components form an antiparallel beta sheet. 4. The material of claim 2, when the first and second crosslinking components form a parallel beta sheet. 5. The material of claim 2, wherein the beta-sheet forming peptides are selected from polyalanine, polyglycine, polyleucine, and a silk fibroin peptide. 6. The material of claim 1, wherein the first and second crosslinking components are coiled-coil forming peptides. 7. The material of claim 6, wherein the coiled-coil forming peptides are selected from a keratin peptide, a myosin peptide, a tropomyosin peptide, and a fibrinogen peptide. 8. The material of claim 1, wherein the first and second crosslinking components are triple-helix forming peptides. 9. The material of claim 8, wherein the first and second crosslinking components are collagen peptides. 10. The material of claim 1, wherein the first and second crosslinking components are ionomers. 11. The material of claim 1, wherein the first silicon component is attached to the first crosslinking components in the form of a block copolymer. 12. The material of claim 1, wherein the first silicon component is attached to the first crosslinking components in the form of a graft copolymer. 13. The material of claim 1, wherein the first silicon component is attached to the first crosslinking components in a combination of both block copolymer and graft copolymer forms. 14. The material of claim 1, wherein the plurality of noncovalent intermediate strength crosslinks within the material are at least about 50 piconewtons in strength. 15. The material of claim 1, wherein the plurality of noncovalent intermediate strength crosslinks within the material are at least about 100 piconewtons in strength. 16. The material of claim 1, wherein the plurality of noncovalent intermediate strength crosslinks within the material are less than about 500 piconewtons in strength. 17. The material of claim 1, wherein the plurality of noncovalent intermediate strength crosslinks within the material are less than about 300 piconewtons in strength. 18. The material of claim 1, wherein the combined number of first and second crosslinking components on the first and second copolymers is at least five. 19. The material of claim 1, wherein the combined number of first and second crosslinking components on the first and second copolymers is at least seven. 20. The material of claim 1, wherein the combined number of first and second crosslinking components on the first and second copolymers is at least ten. 21. The material of claim 1, wherein the combined number of first and second crosslinking components on the first and second copolymers is at least fifteen. 22. The material of claim 1, further comprising covalent crosslinks. 23. The material of claim 1, wherein the first silicon component comprises a silicate. 24. The material of claim 1, wherein the first silicon component comprises a siloxane. 25. The material of claim 1, wherein the first silicon component comprises a silsesquioxane. 26. The material of claim 1, wherein the first silicon component comprises a mixture of any two or more of a silicate, a siloxane, and a silsesquioxane. 27. The material of claim 1, wherein the material is a gel. 28. The material of claim 1, wherein the material is a solid. 29. An adhesive comprising the material of claim 1. 30. An armor comprising the material of claim 1. 31. A coating comprising the material of claim 1. 32. A thermal insulator comprising the material of claim 1. 33. An optical component comprising the material of claim 1. 34. An electrical component comprising the material of claim 1. 35. A biomedical device comprising the material of claim 1. 36. A method of recasting a copolymeric material having a first shape, comprising denaturing the material of claim 1, and recasting the material. 37. The method of claim 36, wherein denaturing the material comprises heating the material. 38. The method of claim 36, wherein denaturing the material comprises solubilizing at least a component of the material with a solvent which allows crosslinks to form. 39. The method of claim 36, wherein recasting the material heals a deformation in the material. 40. The method of claim 36, wherein recasting the material forms the material into a new shape. 41. A crosslinked copolymeric material comprising first and second copolymers, said first copolymer comprising:at least one first silicon component attached to at least two first crosslinking components in the form of a block copolymer, a graft copolymer, or a combination thereof;wherein the first silicon component comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of a silicate, a siloxane, a silsesquioxane, and a mixture of any two or more thereof;wherein the first crosslinking components are polymers and comprise at least two intermediate strength folding domains selected from the group consisting of a first beta sheet-forming peptide, a first alpha helix-forming peptide, and a first modular molecular loop;said second copolymer comprising:at least one second silicon component attached to at least two second crosslinking components in the form of a block copolymer, a graft copolymer, or a mixture thereof;wherein the second silicon component comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of a silicate, a siloxane, a silsesquioxane, and a mixture of any two or more thereof;wherein the second crosslinking components are polymers and comprise at least two intermediate strength folding domains selected from the group consisting of a second beta sheet-forming peptide, a second alpha helix-forming peptide, and a second modular molecular loop;wherein the second copolymer can be the same as or different than the first copolymer;wherein the first and second crosslinking components may be the same or different, and at least one of the first and second crosslinking components is the same molecule and is covalently attached to both the first and second silicon components,wherein the intermediate strength folding domains form a plurality of intermediate strength crosslinks within the material of at least about 10 piconewtons and less than about 1000 piconewtons in strength;wherein the crosslinked material exhibits at least about 5% self-healing upon disruption of its structure. 42. A method of recasting a copolymeric material having a first shape, comprising denaturing the material of claim 41, and recasting the material. 43. The method of claim 42, wherein denaturing the material comprises heating the material. 44. The method of claim 42, wherein denaturing the material comprises solubilizing at least a component of the material with a solvent which allows crosslinks to form. 45. The method of claim 42, wherein recasting the material heals a deformation in the material. 46. The method of claim 42, wherein recasting the material forms the material into a new shape. 47. The method of claim 1, wherein the second copolymer is different than the first copolymer. 48. The method of claim 41, wherein the second copolymer is different than the first copolymer.