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Fracture and Fatigue Behavior of a Self-Healing Polymer Composite

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2011

Eric N. Brown ,
Jeffrey S. Moore ,
Scott R. White  and
Nancy R. Sottos
Eric N. Brown
Affiliation:
Department of Theoretical & Applied Mechanics, Urbana IL, 61801–2983, U.S.A. Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, Urbana, IL, 61801, U.S.A.
Jeffrey S. Moore
Affiliation:
Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, Urbana, IL, 61801, U.S.A. Department of Chemistry, Urbana IL, 61801, U.S.A.
Scott R. White
Affiliation:
Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, Urbana, IL, 61801, U.S.A. Department of Aerospace Engineering, Urbana IL, 61801–2935, U.S.A.
Nancy R. Sottos
Affiliation:
Department of Theoretical & Applied Mechanics, Urbana IL, 61801–2983, U.S.A. Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, Urbana, IL, 61801, U.S.A.
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Abstract

Inspired by biological systems, in which damage triggers an autonomous healing response, a polymer composite material that can heal itself when cracked has been developed. The material consists of an epoxy matrix composite, which utilizes embedded microcapsules to store a healing agent and an embedded catalyst. This paper investigates issues of fracture and fatigue consequential to the development and optimization of this new class of materials. When damage occurs, the propagating crack ruptures the microcapsules, which releases healing agent into the crack plane. Polymerization of the healing agent is triggered by contact with exposed catalyst, which bonds the crack faces closed. The efficiency of crack healing is defined as the ability of a healed sample to recover fracture toughness. Healing efficiencies of over 90% have been achieved. Embedded microcapsules significantly increase the fracture toughness and reduce the fatigue crack propagation rate of epoxy. Fracture mechanisms for neat epoxy and epoxy with embedded microcapsules are presented.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 735: Symposium C – Bioinspired Nanoscale Hybrid Systems , 2002 , C11.22
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2003

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References

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