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| Autonomic healing of polymer composites |
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| Author(s): White SR, Sottos NR, Geubelle PH, Moore JS, Kessler MR, Sriram SR, Brown EN, Viswanathan S |
| Source: NATURE Volume: 409 Issue: 6822 Pages: 794-797 Published: FEB 15 2001 |
| Times Cited: 310 References: 23 |
| Abstract: Structural polymers are susceptible to damage in the form of cracks, which form deep within the structure where detection is difficult and repair is almost impossible. Cracking leads to mechanical degradation(1-3) of fibre-reinforced polymer composites; in microelectronic polymeric components it can also lead to electrical failure(4). Microcracking induced by thermal and mechanical fatigue is also a long-standing problem in polymer adhesives(5). Regardless of the application, once cracks have formed within polymeric materials, the integrity of the structure is significantly compromised. Experiments exploring the concept of self-repair have been previously reported(6-8), but the only successful crack-healing methods that have been reported so far require some form of manual intervention(10-18). Here we report a structural polymeric material with the ability to autonomically heal cracks. The material incorporates a microencapsulated healing agent that is released upon crack intrusion. Polymerization of the healing agent is then triggered by contact with an embedded catalyst, bonding the crack faces. Our fracture experiments yield as much as 75% recovery in toughness, and we expect that our approach will be applicable to other brittle materials systems (including ceramics and glasses). |
| Document Type: Article |
| Language: English |
| Reprint Address: White, SR (reprint author), Univ Illinois, Dept Aeronaut & Astronaut Engn, Urbana, IL 61801 USA |
Addresses:
1. Univ Illinois, Dept Aeronaut & Astronaut Engn, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
2. Univ Illinois, Dept Theoret & Appl Mech, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
3. Univ Illinois, Dept Chem, Urbana, IL 61801 USA |
| Publisher: MACMILLAN PUBLISHERS LTD, PORTERS SOUTH, 4 CRINAN ST, LONDON N1 9XW, ENGLAND |
| Subject Category: Multidisciplinary Sciences |
| IDS Number: 401QC |
| ISSN: 0028-0836 |
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| | | | | | | | | Record from Web of Science® | | | | | | | | | |