Meltable copolymeric elastomers based on polydimethylsiloxane with multiplets of pendant liquid-crystalline groups as physical crosslinker: A self-healing structural material with a potential for smart applications

•Meltable strongly physically crosslinked copolymeric elastomers prepared.•Structure based on alternating PDMS spacers and pendant quartets of LC units.•Aggregation of LC quartets was an efficient crosslinker; LC can be easily varied.•Thermotropic properties of pendant LCs control mechanical and viscoelastic behaviour.•‘Second gelation’ (rheology) observed already in rubbery state, during LC transition.•Potential for 3D printing, coupling materials and self-healing.