Repeated self-healing of microvascular carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites

T. S. Coope, D. F. Wass, R. S. Trask, I. P. Bond

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

A self-healing, high performance, carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite is demonstrated by embedding a Lewis-acid catalytic curing agent within a laminate, manufactured using out of autoclave (OOA) composite manufacturing methods. Two configurations of healing agent delivery, pre-mixed and autonomous mixing, are investigated via injection of a healing agent through bio-inspired microvascular channels exposed on Mode I fractured crack planes. Healing is effected when an epoxy resin-solvent healing agent mixture reaches the boundary of embedded solid-state scandium(III) triflate (Sc(OTf)3) catalyst, located on the crack plane, to initiate the ring-opening polymerisation (ROP) of epoxides. Tailored self-healing agents confer high healing efficiency values after multiple healing cycles (69-108%) to successfully mitigate against crack propagation within the composite microstructure.

Original languageEnglish
Article number115002
JournalSmart Materials and Structures
Volume23
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2014

Keywords

  • bio-inspired
  • fibre-reinforced
  • repeated healing
  • self-healing
  • triflate

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Signal Processing

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