Self-healing materials with microvascular networks

Kathleen S. Toohey, Nancy R. Sottos, Jennifer A. Lewis, Jeffrey S. Moore, and Scott R. White

Self-healing polymers composed of microencapsulated healing agents exhibit remarkable mechanical performance and regenerative ability, but are limited to autonomic repair of a single damage event in a given location.  Self-healing is triggered by crack-induced rupture of the embedded capsules; thus, once a localized region is depleted of healing agent, further repair is precluded.  Re-mendable polymers  can achieve multiple healing cycles, but require external intervention in the form of heat treatment and applied pressure.  Here, we report a self-healing system capable of autonomously repairing repeated damage events. Our bio-inspired coating/substrate design delivers healing agent to cracks in a polymer coating via a three-dimensional microvascular network  embedded in the substrate.  Crack damage in the epoxy coating is healed repeatedly.  This approach opens new avenues for continuous delivery of healing agents for self-repair as well as other active species for additional functionality.

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