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Full Recovery of Fracture Toughness Using a Nontoxic Solvent‐Based Self‐Healing System
Author(s) -
Caruso Mary M.,
Blaiszik Benjamin J.,
White Scott R.,
Sottos Nancy R.,
Moore Jeffrey S.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.200800300
Subject(s) - chlorobenzene , epoxy , solvent , materials science , fracture toughness , self healing , composite material , toughness , organic chemistry , chemistry , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , catalysis
Two significant advances are reported for solvent‐based self‐healing of epoxy materials. First, an autonomic system yielding complete recovery of fracture toughness after crack propagation was achieved by embedding microcapsules containing a mixture of epoxy monomer and solvent into an epoxy matrix. Healing with epoxy‐solvent microcapsules is superior to capsules that contain solvent alone, and multiple healing events are reported for this system. Second, efficient healing is reported for new solvents, including aromatic esters, which are significantly less toxic than the previously employed solvent, chlorobenzene. Preliminary aging studies using either chlorobenzene or ethyl phenylacetate as the solvent demonstrate the stability of the epoxy‐solvent system under ambient conditions for at least one month.